Clinical pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus in Asian liver transplant patients

Abstract

The general aim of the thesis is to investigate the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of tacrolimus (Tac) (FK506) in the local Asian liver transplant recipients so as to identify possible relationships between clinical covariates and population parameter estimates using the NONMEM program. This can be achieved by (A) determining the population PK of Tac in the local Asian paediatric liver transplant recipients, which represents a special subpopulation with special PK characteristics, and (B) determining the population PK of Tac in the local Asian adult and paediatric liver transplant recipients. The population models that were constructed have identified significant relationships in Asian liver transplant patients between the PK of Tac and arthropometric characteristics of the patients, as well as the clinical conditions of the patients. Using these models, in conjunction with Bayesian forecasting, a truly individualized immunosuppressive therapy of Tac can be developed and applied.