Voriconazole (VRC) plasma trough concentrations ( C _min ) are highly variable, and this could affect treatment efficacy and safety in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). We aimed to describe the intra- and interindividual variation of VRC C _min throughout the course of VRC therapy and to identify the determinants of this variation. Clinical data, medications, and VRC C _min ( n = 308) of 33 AHSCT patients were retrospectively collected. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genotypes of CYP2C19, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 patients were retrospectively determined before allografting, and a combined genetic score was calculated for each patient. The higher the genetic score, the faster the metabolism of the patient. The VRC C _min inter- and intraindividual coefficients of variation were 84% and 68%, respectively. The VRC dose ( D ) was correlated to VRC C _min ( r = 0.412, P < 0.0001) only for oral administration. The administration route and the genetic score significantly affected the initial VRC C _min . Considering oral therapy, patients with a genetic score of 2 ( P = 0.009). Subsequent VRC C _min remained influenced by the genetic score ( P = 0.004) but were also affected by pump proton inhibitor comedication ( P < 0.0001). The high variability of VRC C _min in AHSCT patients is partially explained by the route of administration, treatment with pump proton inhibitors, and the combined genetic score. This study suggests the interest in combined genetic score determination to individualize a priori the VRC dose and underlines the need for longitudinal therapeutic drug monitoring to adapt subsequent doses to maintain the VRC C _min within the therapeutic range.

Few studies have simultaneously investigated the impact of inflammation and genetic polymorphisms of cytochromes P450 2C19 and 3A4 on voriconazole trough concentrations. We aimed to define the respective impact of inflammation and genetic polymorphisms on voriconazole exposure by performing individual data meta-analyses. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed to identify studies focusing on voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring with data of both inflammation (assessed by C-reactive protein level) and the pharmacogenomics of cytochromes P450. Individual patient data were collected and analyzed in a mixed-effect model. In total, 203 patients and 754 voriconazole trough concentrations from six studies were included. Voriconazole trough concentrations were independently influenced by age, dose, C-reactive protein level, and both cytochrome P450 2C19 and 3A4 genotype, considered individually or through a combined genetic score. An increase in the C-reactive protein of 10, 50, or 100 mg/L was associated with an increased voriconazole trough concentration of 6, 35, or 82%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of inflammation appeared to be less important for patients with loss-of-function polymorphisms for cytochrome P450 2C19. Voriconazole exposure is influenced by age, inflammatory status, and the genotypes of both cytochromes P450 2C19 and 3A4, suggesting that all these determinants need to be considered in approaches of personalization of voriconazole treatment.

Aims: Determining dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity by measuring patient's uracil (U) plasma concentration is mandatory before fluoropyrimidine (FP) administration in France. In this study, we aimed to refine the pre‐analytical recommendations for determining U and dihydrouracil (UH₂) concentrations, as they are essential in reliable DPD‐deficiency testing.Methods: U and UH₂ concentrations were collected from 14 hospital laboratories. Stability in whole blood and plasma after centrifugation, the type of anticoagulant and long‐term plasma storage were evaluated. The variation induced by time and temperature was calculated and compared to an acceptability range of ±20%. Inter‐occasion variability (IOV) of U and UH₂ was assessed in 573 patients double sampled for DPD‐deficiency testing.Results: Storage of blood samples before centrifugation at room temperature (RT) should not exceed 1 h, whereas cold (+4°C) storage maintains the stability of uracil after 5 hours. For patients correctly double sampled, IOV of U reached 22.4% for U (SD = 17.9%, range = 0–99%). Notably, 17% of them were assigned with a different phenotype (normal or DPD‐deficient) based on the analysis of their two samples. For those having at least one non‐compliant sample, this percentage increased up to 33.8%. The moment of blood collection did not affect the DPD phenotyping result.Conclusion: Caution should be taken when interpreting U concentrations if the time before centrifugation exceeds 1 hour at RT, since it rises significantly afterwards. Not respecting the pre‐analytical conditions for DPD phenotyping increases the risk of DPD status misclassification.