Effect of Wuzhi capsules on cyclosporine A concentration in children with aplastic anemia immunotherapy: a single-center observational study

ABSTRACT

Objective

This research aimed to assess the effect of Wuzhi capsules (WZC) on the blood concentration of cyclosporine A (CsA) in renal aplastic anemia recipients.

Methods

This observational study was carried out at the Hematology Oncology Center, Beijing Children’s Hospital between November 2019 and February 2020. A total of 102 Chinese AA recipients receiving CsA (6 mg/kg/d) with or without WZC were included in this study. Baseline data, such as age, therapeutic drug monitoring data, and follow-up information were collected. The promotion concentration of CsA was calculated, and the pharmaceutical economics evaluation with combination of two drugs was also carried out.

Results

Dose- and body weight-adjusted trough concentrations (C₀/D/W) of CsA in the WZC group were found to be significantly higher than that in the non-WZC group (P < 0.01). The average C₀ of CsA increased by (63.27 ± 45.81) ng/mL. The incidence of adverse events was also not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

WZC can increase CsA concentration without increasing adverse drug reactions. Efficient and convenient immunosuppressive effects on AA recipients can be achieved via immunosuppressant therapy in combination with WZC.

KEYWORDS:

• Wuzhi capsule
• aplastic anemia
• children
• concentration of cyclosporine A

Author contributions

X Cheng was involved in the critical analysis of clinical data and wrote the first draft of the paper; J Ma contributed to treatment and management of clinical patients; X Xu contributed to analyzing the data; L Zhang assisted in collection of blood data; X Wang contributed to the modification of the paper; R Wu was involved in idea development, content analysis, supervision of statistical analysis and critical review of the manuscript.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81970111), Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 7192046), the Pediatric Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals (No. XTZD20180205), National Science and Technology Key Projects (No. 2017ZX09304029004), Children’s Medicine Research Project of Beijing Children’s Hospital and Capital Medical University (No. YZYB202001).