Non-uniformity of Changes in Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters in Liver Cirrhosis: Implications for Drug Dosage Adjustment
Eman El‐Khateeb, Brahim Achour, Zubida M. Al‐Majdoub, Jill Barber, Amin Rostami‐Hodjegan
Abstract
= 14), using QconCAT-based targeted proteomics. The results revealed a significant but non-uniform reduction in the abundance of enzymes and transporters, from control, by 30-50% in mild, 40-70% in moderate, and 50-90% in severe cirrhosis groups. Cancer and/or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related cirrhosis showed larger deterioration in levels of CYP3A4, 2C8, 2E1, 1A6, UGT2B4/7, CES1, FMO3/5, EPHX1, MGST1/3, BSEP, and OATP2B1 than the cholestasis set. Drug-specific pathways together with non-uniform changes of abundance across the enzymes and transporters under various degrees of cirrhosis necessitate the use of PBPK models. As case examples, such models for repaglinide, dabigatran, and zidovudine were successful in recovering disease-related alterations in drug exposure. In conclusion, the current study provides the biological rationale behind the absence of a single dose adjustment formula for all drugs in cirrhosis and demonstrates the utility of proteomics-informed PBPK modeling for drug-specific dose adjustment in liver cirrhosis.