A comparison of peripheral and centrally collected cyclosporine a blood levels in pediatric patients undergoing stem cell transplant.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To measure differences in cyclosporine A (CSA) trough concentrations from blood collected as a peripheral sample and from a CSA-uncontaminated (naive) lumen of a double-lumen central line. DESIGN Prospective, comparative study. SETTING Pediatric university teaching hospital in metropolitan Australia. SAMPLE 71 paired central and peripheral CSA blood samples from a convenience sample of 14 pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients receiving IV CSA as prophylaxis or treatment for graft-versus-host disease. Ages ranged from 2 months to 14 years, 5 months. METHODS Comparing blood samples collected from a peripheral site and a CSA-naive lumen of a double-lumen central line. Data were analyzed using a paired student t test and calculation of the 95% confidence interval of the concentration ratio from different sampling sites. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Site of blood sampling and CSA trough concentrations. FINDINGS No significant difference existed between CSA concentration in samples collected from the different sites in children receiving intermittent infusions of CSA (p = 0.13). The 95% confidence interval of the CSA concentration ratio was 0.92 1.04. CONCLUSIONS When CSA is administered on an intermittent dosing schedule, comparable CSA trough concentrations can be determined from blood collected via the CSA-naive lumen of a double-lumen central line or at a peripheral sampling site. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients who require regular CSA trough concentrations no longer will require peripheral blood samples when receiving an intermittent dosing schedule.