Comparison of free plasma versus saliva mycophenolic acid exposure following mycophenolate mofetil administration in adult kidney transplant recipients

Therapeutic monitoring (TDM) of mycophenolic acid (MPA) has the potential to improve drug inefficacy and toxicities in kidney transplantation. However, measurement of plasma MPA concentrations is laborious and invasive. This study examined the utility of saliva compared with plasma based TDM of MPA. Paired blood and saliva samples were collected from 47 adult kidney transplant recipients pre- and at 1-, 2-, and 4-hours post mycophenolate mofetil administration. No relationship was observed between saliva MPA concentrations and either total or free plasma MPA concentrations (p > 0.05). This suggests that saliva is a poor direct marker of plasma MPA concentrations and therefore should not be used for MPA TDM.