Ketoconazole with cyclosporine

The correct answer = D. Ketoconazole is effective against Candida, but it does not react with cyclosporine nor is it cardiotoxic. Ketoconazole inhibits the hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzymes that inactivate cyclosporine. Thus in this instance the patient would be in danger of increased cyclosporine toxicity. Though ketoconazole does cause gynecomastia and decreased libido, this would not be of primary concern. 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with cyclosporine, epirubicin, grapefruit juice, imatinib, ketoconazole... 

The interaction between ketoconazole and cyclosporine has been exploited in order to reduce drug costs associated with administration of cyclosporine following organ transplantation. Relative to ketoconazole and itraconazole, fluconazole appears to be intermediate in its ability to inhibit human cytochromes P450. The magnitude of fluconazole-induced inhibition of cyclosporine metabolism appears, however, to depend on the dosage of fluconazole. 

Concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs (eg, aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, vancomycin) with cyclosporine leads to enhanced nephrotoxicity. Diltiazem, ketoconazole, and verapamil inhibit the metabolism of cyclosporine, enhancing its toxic effects unless dosage is reduced. Carbamazepine induces cytochrome P450 and reduces both the therapeutic and the toxic effects of the immunosuppressant drug. The answer is (A). 

Ketoconazole (a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4) has been shown to increase the oral bioavailability of cyclosporin from 22 to 56% [50]. This consisted of a 1.8-fold decrease in systemic clearance combined with a 4.9-fold decrease in oral clearance. The authors estimated that hepatic extraction was decreased only 1.15-fold, whereas the oral bioavailability increased 2.6-fold and the observation was attributed to decreased intestinal metabolism. Erythromycin was also shown to increase the oral bioavailability of cyclosporin A 1.7-fold, while pre-treatment with rifampin (an inducer of CYP3A4) decreased oral bioavailability of cyclosporin from 27% to 10% due to a 4.2-fold increase in oral clearance but only a 1.2-fold increase in systemic clearance. Floren et al. [51] have also shown that ketoconazole can double the oral bioavailability of tacrolimus in man by inhibiting gut wall CYP3A4. 

The catabolism of lovastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin proceeds chiefly through CYP3A4, whereas that of fluvastatin and rosuvastatin is mediated by CYP2C9. Pravastatin is catabolized through other pathways, including sulfation. The 3A4-dependent reductase inhibitors tend to accumulate in plasma in the presence of drugs that inhibit or compete for the 3A4 cytochrome. These include the macrolide antibiotics, cyclosporine, ketoconazole and its congeners, HIVprotease inhibitors, tacrolimus, nefazodone, fibrates, and others (see Chapter 4). Concomitant use of reductase inhibitors with amiodarone or verapamil also causes an increased risk of myopathy. 

A 30-year-old male has had a heart transplant and is being maintained on the immunosuppressant, cyclosporine. He develops a Candida infection and is treated with ketoconazole. Why is this poor therapy ... 

Inhibitors of OATP transport are typically ster-ically bulky compounds, including anions, cations, and neutral compounds (95). Various medications have been shown to interact with OATPs, including HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, cyclosporine, quinidine, rifampin, ketoconazole, verapamil, and certain protease inhibitors. Cyclosporine and rifampin have relatively high ratios of plasma concentration to Ki, suggesting the potential for clinically significant drug-drug interactions via modulation of OATP. On the other hand, plasma concentrations of pravastatin are... 

Interactions. Drugs that lower gastric acidity, e.g. antacids, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, impair the absorption of ketoconazole from the gastrointestinal tract. Like all imidazoles, ketoconazole binds strongly to several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and thus inhibits the metabolism (and increases effects of) oral anticoagulants, phenytoin and cyclosporin, and increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias with terfenadine. A disulfiram-like reaction occurs with alcohol. Concurrent use of rifampicin, by enzyme induction of CYP 3A, markedly reduces the plasma concentration of ketoconazole. 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with amiodarone, anabolic steroids, antithyroid agents, barbiturates, bivalirudin, cimetidine, clofibrate, clopidogrel, cyclosporine, delavirdine, dextrothyroxine, disulfiram, fluconazole, glutethimide, imatinib, itraconazole, ketoconazole, metronidazole, miconazole, penicillins, phenylbutazones, piperacillin, quinidine, quinine, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, rofecoxib, salicylates, sulfinpyrazone, sulfonamides, testosterone, thyroid, zileuton... 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with astemizole, atorvastatin, cyclosporine, fluvastatin, glibenclamide, glyburide, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lovastatin, oral contraceptives, reboxetine, simvastatin, St John s wort,... 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with alfentanil, aminophylline, amisulpride, amoxicillin, ampicillin, anticonvulsants, astemizole, atorvastatin, benzodiazepines, bromocriptine, buprenorphine, bupropion, carbamazepine, cilostazol, ciprofloxacin, cisapride, clindamycin, colchicine, cyclosporine, dasatinib, digoxin, dihydroergotamine, diltiazem, disopyramide, enoxacin, eplerenone, ergotamine, eszopiclone, everolimus, fluconazole, fluoxetine, fluvastatin, gatifloxacin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, imatinib, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lomefloxacin, lorazepam, lovastatin, methadone, methylprednisolone, methysergide, midazolam, mizolastine, moxifloxacin, nitrazepam, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, paroxetine, pimozide, pravastatin, quinolones, ranolazine, repaglinide, rupatadine, sertraline, sildenafil, simvastatin, sparfloxacin, sulpiride, tacrolimus, terfenadine, triazolam, troleandomycin, vardenafil, verapamil, vinblastine, warfarin, zaleplon, zolpidem, zuclopenthixol... 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with amlodipine, anisindione, anticoagulants, aprepitant, atorvastatin, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, butabarbital, carbamazepine, chlordiazepoxide, clarithromycin, clonazepam, dorazepate, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, diazepam, dicumarol, erythromycin, ethotoin, felodipine, flurazepam, fluvastatin, fosphenytoin, isradipine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lorazepam, lovastatin, mephenytoin, mephobarbital, midazolam, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, oxazepam, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, pimozide, pravastatin, primidone, quazepam, rifampin, secobarbital, simvastatin, St John s wort, temazepam, warfarin... 

Clinically important, potentially hazardous interactions with abacavir, atorvastatin, bepridil, bupropion, carbamazepine, clarithromycin, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, digoxin, felodipine, fluticasone propionate, fosamprenavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lovastatin, methadone, midazolam, nicardipine, nifedipine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, simvastatin, sirolimus, St John s wort, systemic lidocaine, tacrolimus, tenofovir, trazodone, vinblastine, vincristine, voriconazole, warfarin, zidovudine... 

---