Ambisome in Liver Transplant Patients

Blood, Bile and Tissue Pharmacokinetics of Single Dose Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome ®) in Liver Transplant Patients.

In this study we are trying to find out the amount of a drug called Ambisome in the liver, the blood, the bile and the fatty tissues of the body. This drug is approved for treatment of infections caused by fungus and is known to be effective against most of the fungal infections, which can happen after liver transplantation. By taking small pieces (less than quarter of a teaspoon) of liver and fat during the liver transplant operation, we can measure how much of the drug is concentrated in the liver. After that, we will measure the level of the drug in the blood and in the bile that comes out of a small tube which is inserted into the bile tube as a routine in all liver transplant patients. These measurements will be taken daily for a week and then weekly for another 3 weeks.

We are inviting you to take part in this study in order to increase our knowledge of the behavior of this drug so that we can find the most effective treatment to prevent fungal infections in liver transplant patients.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Detailed Description

Fungal infections continue to be a source of serious morbidity and mortality in liver transplant patients. Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome ®) has been shown in animals to be concentrated in the liver, lungs and leukocytes. It also has a long half-like making it a potentially attractive drug for prophylaxis in liver transplantation (OLT).

We propose to administer a single (5mg/kg) dose of AmBisome ® following reperfusion of the new liver. Liver, subcutaneous fat, blood and bile samples will be analyzed for AMB levels 1-2 hours after drug administration. Blood and bile, and body fluid samples will be sequentially analyzed for 3 weeks post transplant. This will be done in 50 consecutive patients. The incidence of fungal infections and adverse effects will be monitored for three months.

Persistent AMB levels in blood bile and ascites, if found, will provide a good rationale for AmBisome ® prophylaxis for fungal infections in outpatients.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

10

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Memorial Hermann Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All adult liver transplant recipients receiving cadaveric liver transplants

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with choledocho-jejunostomy reconstruction of the biliary tree.
  • Children less than 18 years of age
  • Patients with known allergy to Amphotericin B.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Tissue concentration of ambisome
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months
Bile levels of amphotericin B over time (3 weeks)
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks
Blood levels of amphotericin B over time (3 weeks)
Time Frame: 3 weeks
3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Rate of fungal infections
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Hadar J. Merhav, MD, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2005

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 8, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 8, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 12, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 23, 2008

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 20, 2008

Last Verified

June 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HSC-MS-04-0347
  • Astellas Pharma
  • APUSprojectno.JK-04-001

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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