Interpretation

The successful management of transplant rejection and graft vs.
host disease (GVHD) continues to pose a
difficult challenge for physicians treating solid organ and bone
marrow transplant patients. Immunosuppressive drugs are commonly
used to prevent rejection in these patient populations. Compliance
with immunosuppressive therapy is essential to long term survival,
however provides the additional risks of infection. Therapeutic
drug monitoring of immunosuppressive medication is required due to
variable metabolism, absorption and drug interactions. By using
drug level monitoring with timely results, the physician is able to
individualize drug dosage to improve efficacy and reduce
toxicity.