Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rifampicin, a key drug against tuberculosis (TB), displays wide between-patient pharmacokinetics variability and concentration-dependent antimicrobial effect. We investigated variability in plasma rifampicin concentrations and the role of SLCO1B1, ABCB1, arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) and carboxylesterase 2 (CES-2) genotypes in Ethiopian patients with TB. METHODS: We enrolled adult patients with newly diagnosed TB (n = 119) who had received 2 weeks of rifampicin-based anti-TB therapy. Venous blood samples were obtained at three time points post-dose. Genotypes for SLCO1B1 (c.388A > G, c.521T > C), ABCB1 (c.3435C > T, c.4036A > G), AADACc.841G > A and CES-2 (c.269-965A > G) were determined. Rifampicin plasma concentration was quantified using LC-MS/MS. Predictors of rifampicin C(max) and AUC(0-7 h) were analysed. RESULTS: The median rifampicin C(max) and AUC(0-7) were 6.76 µg/mL (IQR 5.37-8.48) and 17.05 µg·h/mL (IQR 13.87-22.26), respectively. Only 30.3% of patients achieved the therapeutic efficacy threshold (C(max)>8 µg/mL). The allele frequency for SLCO1B1*1B (c.388A > G), SLCO1B1*5 (c.521T > C), ABCB1 c.3435C > T, ABCB1c.4036A > G, AADAC c.841G > A and CES-2 c.269-965A > G were 2.2%, 20.2%, 24.4%, 14.6%, 86.1% and 30.6%, respectively. Sex, rifampicin dose and ABCB1c.4036A > G, genotypes were significant predictors of rifampicin C(max) and AUC(0-7). AADACc.841G > A genotypes were significant predictors of rifampicin C(max). There was no significant influence of SLCO1B1 (c.388A > G, c.521T > C), ABCB1c.3435C > T and CES-2 c.269-965A > G on rifampicin plasma exposure variability. CONCLUSIONS: Subtherapeutic rifampicin plasma concentrations occurred in two-thirds of Ethiopian TB patients. Rifampicin exposure varied with sex, dose and genotypes. AADACc.841G/G and ABCB1c.4036A/A genotypes and male patients are at higher risk of lower rifampicin plasma exposure. The impact on TB treatment outcomes and whether high-dose rifampicin is required to improve therapeutic efficacy requires further investigation.