Leuprorelin acetate blood levels and dialysance after the administration of sustained-release leuprorelin acetate in a dialysis case complicated by prostate cancer

BACKGROUND The objective of this study is to determine whether in a dialysis patient with prostate cancer leuprorelin acetate blood levels were abnormally high or low due to kidney failure or because of dialysis. METHODS Sustained-release leuprorelin acetate 3.75 mg was given every 4 weeks for prostate cancer in a 79-year-old dialysis patient. Changes in serum level of leuprorelin acetate in this patient were measured before and after dialysis. RESULTS Leuprorelin acetate appeared to have a dialysance close to that of vitamin B12, which has a similar molecular weight. The amount dialyzed did not exceed 8.3% of the amount released per day. Mean blood levels of leuprorelin acetate, as measured in this patient, were higher (0.64 to 1.31 ng/ml) than those in prostate cancer patients with normal kidney function (mean ± SD, 0.24 ± 0.12 to 0.50 ± 0.32 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS Sustained-release leuprorelin acetate can be used safely in dialysis patients with prostate cancer. Prostate 34:191–194, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.