1. Demographic information
Between Jan 2021 and Dec 2023, 149 patients (281 concentrations) were enrolled in the study. The median age was 65, with 103 males (69.13%). Among them, 29 were solid organ transplant recipients (19.46%): 21 lung, 7 renal, and 1 liver transplant. Only 1 patient had an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (0.67%). The median initial CMV CT was 24.23. All patients were treated with intravenous ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus infection, with a median daily dose of 300 mg and 5.17 mg/kg. Patient details are provided in Table 1.
Table 1.Patient characteristics(n=149)
Characteristics
|
Valuea
|
Age,years)
|
65(16-89)
|
Sex(male,%)
|
103(69.13)
|
Weight,kg
|
60(35-100)
|
Immunodeficiency background
|
|
Malignant tumor
|
14(9.40)
|
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
|
1(0.67)
|
Solid organ transplant
|
29(19.46)
|
Lung
|
21(14.09)
|
Kidney
|
7(4.70)
|
Liver
|
1(0.67)
|
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
|
|
Initial BAL CMV replication
|
149(100%)
|
Baseline CMV CT
|
24.23(12.78-28.23)
|
Baseline biochemical data
|
|
White blood cell count,109/L
|
9.26(0.43-37.95)
|
Neutrophil count,109/L
|
7.49(0.34-32.22)
|
Platelet count,109/L
|
163(6-599)
|
Hemoglobin,g/L
|
85(40-171)
|
SCr,μmol/L
|
70.40(6.80-426.00)
|
Creatinine clearance,ml/minb
|
76.27(11.14-651.59)
|
Days of hospitalization, days
|
26(7-369)
|
Daily dose,mg
|
300(50-1000)
|
Daily dose corrected by weight,mg/kg
|
5.17(0.91-15.38)
|
aData are presented as frequency (%) unless denoted as mean ± standard deviation or median (IQR).
bCalculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation.
2. Overview of therapeutic drug monitoring
Among the 281 ganciclovir concentrations, the maximum was 11.94 μg/ml, the minimum was 0.07 μg/ml, and the mean±SD was 1.78±1.93 μg/ml. The concentrations were categorized into three groups: <2 μg/ml, 2–4 μg/ml, and >4 μg/ml. A total of 54 cases (19.22%) were within the target range, with <2 μg/ml comprising the highest percentage (70.82%) (Table 2).
Table 2. Distribution of cases of Cmin by level
Concentration range(μg/ml)
|
Cases
|
Proportion(%)
|
Concentrations (mean±SD,μg/ml)
|
<2
|
199
|
70.82
|
0.87±0.53
|
2~4
|
54
|
19.22
|
2.68±0.52
|
>4
|
28
|
9.96
|
6.54±2.12
|
3. Relationship between ganciclovir Cmin and patient prognosis
After ganciclovir treatment, 102 patients (68.46%) had negative CMV results, and seven (4.70%) had elevated CMV CT, resulting in a 73.15% overall treatment efficiency. No significant association was found between ganciclovir Cmin and CMV prognosis (P=0.311). When categorizing CMV prognosis into CT lowering, increase, and negativization, the drug Cmin and C/D in the CT lowering group were lower than those in the negativization and CT elevated groups, but without significant difference (P=0.347, P=0.623) (Table 3).
Table 3.Relationship between ganciclovir concentrations and patient outcomes
Outcome
|
Trough concentrations(μg/ml)
|
Standardized drug trough concentration(μg/ml/g)
|
CMV negativization
|
1.76±1.88
|
8.41±13.96
|
CMV circulating threshold increase
|
1.93±2.16
|
9.89±17.93
|
CMV circulating threshold lowering
|
1.04±0.81
|
5.79±7.56
|
F
|
1.064
|
0.474
|
P
|
0.347
|
0.623
|
Binary logistic regression analysis (Table 4) revealed that organ transplantation (OR 0.247, 95% CI: 0.093-0.654) negatively impacted CMV prognosis, while extended ganciclovir administration (OR 1.095, 95% CI: 1.019-1.176) and higher patient albumin levels (OR 1.101, 95% CI: 1.043-1.161) were associated with better clinical outcomes in CMV.
Table 4 Binary logistic regression of factors influencing the clinical efficacy of CMV
Variable
|
Regression Coefficient
|
Standard Error
|
Wald χ2
|
Odds Ratio (OR)
|
95% Confidence Interval (CI) for OR
|
p Value
|
Sex
|
0.320
|
0.444
|
0.521
|
1.377
|
0.577~3.285
|
0.471
|
Age, yr
|
0.006
|
0.014
|
0.183
|
1.006
|
0.979~1.034
|
0.669
|
Weight, kg
|
-0.012
|
0.016
|
0.521
|
0.988
|
0.957~1.021
|
0.470
|
Hospital stay, d
|
-0.008
|
0.008
|
0.978
|
0.992
|
0.977~1.008
|
0.323
|
Diabetes
|
-0.641
|
0.395
|
2.626
|
0.527
|
0.243~1.144
|
0.105
|
Transplantation
|
-1.400
|
0.498
|
7.906
|
0.247
|
0.093~0.654
|
0.005*
|
Daily dose, mg
|
-0.001
|
0.001
|
1.900
|
0.999
|
0.997~1.000
|
0.168
|
Duration of therapy, d
|
0.090
|
0.037
|
6.053
|
1.095
|
1.019~1.176
|
0.014*
|
Albumin, g/L
|
0.096
|
0.027
|
12.280
|
1.101
|
1.043~1.161
|
0.000*
|
Dependent Variable: The effectiveness of ganciclovir treatment was determined by CMV negativization or increased circulating threshold (CT) (value = 1), while decreased CMV circulating threshold post-treatment indicated ineffectiveness (value = 0).
Note:*P < 0.05
4.Effect of renal function, RRT on plasma drug concentration
In this study, 281 plasma concentrations were recorded including 62 cases (22.06%) with CRRT and 7 cases (2.49%) with IRRT. Data were divided into CRRT, IRRT, and no renal replacement therapy (no-RRT) groups. The Cmin was significantly higher in the CRRT group (2.72±2.71μg/ml), compared to the no-RRT group (1.47±1.51 μg/ml, P < 0.0001) and slightly higher than the IRRT group (2.65±2.27μg/ml), though not statistically significant (P = 0.995). For the concentration adjusted by tacrolimus daily dose (C/D), the mean value was highest in the IRRT group(29.76±23.46μg/ml/g) and lowest in the no-RRT group(5.46±6.80μg/ml/g), with significant differences among these groups (P < 0.0001) (Figure 1).
We examined renal function's impact on Cmin in patients not undergoing RRT. Using 212 plasma concentrations, we employed SCr and CRCL (Cockcroft-Gault equation) as renal function indices and assessed their effect on Cmin and C/D, creating scatter plots. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between SCr and both Cmin (r=0.1733, P=0.0115) and C/D (r=0.6114, P<0.0001). Conversely, CRCL showed a significant negative correlation with Cmin (r=-0.2244, P=0.0010) and C/D (r=-0.3680, P<0.0001). Refer to Figure 2 for details.
5. Analysis of independent factors influencing ganciclovir Cmin
Further multiple linear regression analysis of ganciclovir Cmin indicated correlations with disease type, HGB, SCr, and CRRT. Diabetic patients exhibited a 0.869 μg/ml decrease in ganciclovir Cmin compared to non-diabetics (P=0.001). Transplant patients had a 0.842 μg/ml reduction in Cmin compared to non-transplant patients (P=0.008). Each 1 g/L increase in HGB level resulted in a 0.011 μg/ml decrease in Cmin (P=0.034). Additionally, each 1 μmol/L increase in SCr corresponded to a 0.006 μg/ml increase in Cmin (P=0.000). Administration of CRRT increased ganciclovir Cmin by 0.967 μg/ml (P=0.000). Predictors of ganciclovir Cmin are detailed in Table 5.
The final multiple linear regression equation is as follows:
Cmin=2.188-0.869×DM-0.842×TP-0.011×HGB+0.006×SCr+0.967×CRRT
where, Cmin is the trough concentration. “DM= 1” if the patient has diabetes, otherwise “DM= 0” ; “TP= 1” if the patient has transplantion, otherwise “TP= 0” ; “CRRT= 1” if the patient has CRRT, otherwise “CRRT= 0”.
Table 5.The independent influencing factors of Cmin
Parameters
|
Estimate Coefficients
|
Std. Error
|
t
|
VIF
|
p
|
(Intercept)
|
2.188
|
0.497
|
4.403
|
|
0.000
|
Diabetes
|
-0.869
|
0.263
|
-3.300
|
1.023
|
0.001
|
Transplantation
|
-0.842
|
0.315
|
-2.672
|
1.070
|
0.008
|
Hemoglobin,g/L
|
-0.011
|
0.005
|
-2.133
|
1.023
|
0.034
|
SCr, μmol/L
|
0.006
|
0.001
|
4.541
|
1.108
|
0.000
|
CRRT
|
0.967
|
0.263
|
3.679
|
1.032
|
0.000
|
F
|
11.600
|
R2
|
0.174
|
Adjusted R2
|
0.159
|
p
|
0.000
|
Stepwise multiple linear regression was conducted with inclusion and exclusion criteria set at 0.05 and 0.10, respectively (N = 281). Scr denotes serum creatinine, and CRRT stands for continuous renal replacement therapy.
|
6. Ganciclovir TDM and hemocytopenia
Leukopenia, neutropenia,thrombocytopenia, and HGB reduction incidence rates were 59.73%, 66.44%, 57.72%, and 63.76%, respectively, as detailed in Table 6. A significant correlation existed between ganciclovir Cmin and HGB reduction (r=0.139, P=0.020). ROC curve analysis (Figure 3) indicated a threshold ganciclovir Cmin value of 0.985 μg/ml, with an AUC of 0.600 (95% CI, 0.533-0.667) (P=0.004). No significant correlation was found between ganciclovir Cmin and reductions in other blood cell counts.
Table 6.Statistics of related adverse reactions (n=149)
Toxicity
|
Cases(%)
|
Leukopenia
|
89(59.73)
|
White blood cell count<3×109/L
|
12(8.05)
|
Decrease in white blood cell count from baseline>20%
|
75(50.34)
|
Neutropenia
|
99(66.44)
|
Neutrophil count<1.5×109/L
|
4(2.68)
|
Decrease in neutrophil count from baseline>20%
|
82(55.03)
|
Thrombocytopenia
|
86(57.72)
|
Blood platelet count<100×109/L
|
34(22.82)
|
Decrease in platelet count from baseline>50%
|
20(13.42)
|
Decreased hemoglobin
|
95(63.76)
|
Hemoglobin<80g/L
|
53(35.57)
|
Decrease in hemoglobin from baseline>20%
|
30(20.13)
|
7. Ganciclovir TDM and hepatic or renal adverse effects
No significant link was found between ganciclovir levels and liver function adverse reactions (ALT, AST, and TBIL), while a notable correlation existed between ganciclovir concentrations and elevated blood creatinine adverse reactions (r=0.134, P=0.025). ROC curve analysis revealed that the threshold ganciclovir Cmin value for adverse reactions with increased SCr was 0.995 μg/ml, with an area under the curve of 0.701 (95% CI, 0.612-0.789) (P=0.001).