Background: Although measurement of drug serum levels is an objective direct method for testing compliance, it can be distorted by "white-coat compliance" or by variations in drug elimination. Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of noncompliance with perindopril therapy in adult out-patients using pharmacokinetic simulations.
The additional aim was to compare the predictive performance of two glomerular filtration rate markers-creatinine and cystatin C. Setting: Department of Cardiology, Tomas Bata Regional Hospital in Zlin, Czech Republic.
Method: Perindoprilat pharmacokinetic models individualized according to patient characteristics were compared with measured perindoprilat serum concentrations to document compliance. Linear regression was used to evaluate the relations between perindoprilat clearance and glomerular filtration rate estimated using creatinine and cystatin C.
Main outcome measure: Assessment of non-compliance with medication using drug concentration measurements reinforced with therapeutic drug monitoring. Results: Non-detectable perindoprilat levels were observed in 26.1% of patients.
Another 21.7% were classified as non-compliant based on therapeutic drug monitoring pharmacokinetic simulations. Volume of distribution, clearance and half-life median value (interquartiA degrees range) for perindoprilat were 408.3 (360.4-456.8) L, 10.1 (4.9-17.0) L h(-1) and 24.7 (19.4-62.7) h, respectively.
Linear regression models showed tight relationship between cystatin C and perindoprilat clearance. Conclusions: Assessment of adherence with medication reinforced with therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic simulations is proposed as an optimal method reducing disadvantages of simple drug concentration measurements.
Cystatin C proves to be better surrogate marker for perindoprilat elimination than creatinine.