rifampin and Histiocytosis--Langerhans-Cell

It were Liebow et al. (1965) who, for the first time, described the desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) as one clinical and morphological unit. The etiopathology of this disease is still unknown and there exist many controversial opinions as to its role within the interstitial pneumonias. For the clinical-physician the DIP represents a difficult problem because there seems to be no uniform appearance to this disease. So a lung-biopsy is the unique way to make a definitive diagnosis. The following description represents a case of DIP observed at our hospital. At the same time we tried to give a review of our present knowledge concerning the morphology, course and therapy of this disease. We think it should be note that the DIP was accompanied by an extreme peripheral eosinophilia. To our knowledge this is the first time such a phenomenon is described. In the course of the treatment with steroids the eosinophilia disappeared parallel to the normalization of the radiographic findings.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Collagen Diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Eosinophilia; Female; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Isoniazid; Lung; Pneumonia; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Radiography; Rifampin; Tetracycline

A small percentage of patients with tuberculosis present with cutaneous findings, which may be difficult to diagnose. We present a patient diagnosed with a rare, non-scarring form of cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB), classically termed as lupus vulgaris erythematoides.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Biopsy; Calcineurin Inhibitors; Dermis; Diagnostic Errors; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eczema; Erythema; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Isoniazid; Lupus Vulgaris; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Necrosis; Nose Diseases; Pyrazinamide; Rifampin

The tuberculostatic compound rifampin (INN, rifampicin) induces the expression of a number of drug metabolism-related genes involved in multidrug resistance (P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance proteins 1 and 2), cytochromes (cytochrome P450 [CYP] 3A4), uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases, monoamine oxidases, and glutathione S -transferases. Drugs that depend on these enzymes for their metabolism are prone to drug interactions when coadministered with rifampin. A novel, clinically relevant drug interaction is described between rifampin and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a cornerstone immunosuppressive molecule used in solid organ transplantation. Long-term rifampin therapy caused a more than twofold reduction in dose-corrected mycophenolic acid (MPA) exposure (dose-interval area under the concentration curve from 0 to 12 hours [AUC 0-12]) when administered simultaneously in a heart-lung transplant recipient, whereas subsequent withdrawal of rifampin resulted in reversal of these changes after 2 weeks of washout (dose-corrected AUC 0-12 after rifampin withdrawal, 19.7 mg.h.L-1.g -1 versus 6.13 mg.h.L-1.g-1 before rifampin withdrawal [221% change]; dose-uncorrected AUC 0-12 after rifampin withdrawal, 29.6 mg.h/L [daily MMF dose, 3 g] versus 18.4 mg.h/L [daily MMF dose, 6 g] during rifampin administration [60.8% change]). Failure to recognize this drug interaction could potentially lead to MPA underexposure and loss of clinical efficacy. The effect of rifampin on MPA metabolism can, at least in part, be explained by simultaneous induction of renal, hepatic, and gastrointestinal uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases and organic anion transporters with subsequent functional inhibition of enterohepatic recirculation of MPA.

Topics: Area Under Curve; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enterohepatic Circulation; Glucuronosyltransferase; Heart-Lung Transplantation; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Male; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Middle Aged; Mycophenolic Acid; Pharmacology, Clinical; Respiratory Insufficiency; Rifampin; Tacrolimus; Time Factors; Uridine Diphosphate; Withholding Treatment