Intravenous, oral pharmacokinetics, and oral dosing of FK 506 in small bowel transplant patients.

Abstract

FK 506 is a new macrolide with potent immunosuppressive activity. Use of this drug is associated with reduced incidence of rejection following liver, kidney, and heart transplantation. 1–4 Recently, FK 506 has been shown to be effective in small bowel transplantation. 5 It is known that FK 506 absorption is not influenced by the presence or absence of bile.6–8 The aims of this study are to: (1) determine pharmacokinetics of FK 506 after intravenous (IV) dose in small bowel transplant patients: and (2) to determine the absorption of FK 506 following oral administration.