OBJECTIVES: Use of miltefosine in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is hampered by its potential teratogenicity. The duration of adequate contraceptive cover in females of child-bearing potential after cessation of a potentially teratogenic drug therapy remains debated. The objective of this study was to provide a rational approach to suggest durations of contraceptive cover for various miltefosine regimens.
METHODS: A human reproductive safety threshold exposure limit was derived using animal-to-human dose conversion. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data for miltefosine in females are lacking; a previously developed population PK model and a comprehensive anthropometric dataset were used to simulate PK data for Indian female VL patients receiving miltefosine for 5, 7, 10 or 28 days. Probability of supra-threshold miltefosine exposure was used to evaluate adequate durations of post-treatment contraceptive cover for the various regimens.
RESULTS: PK data were simulated for 465 treated Indian female VL patients of child-bearing potential with a median age of 25 years (IQR 16-31 years) and median weight of 38 kg (IQR 34-42 kg). From animal reproductive toxicity studies, a human reproductive safety threshold exposure limit was derived of 24.5 μg · day/mL. Probability of 'unprotected' supra-threshold miltefosine exposure was very low (<0.2%) for a post-treatment contraceptive cover period of 4 months for the standard 28 day regimen, and of 2 months for the shorter regimens.
CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study providing rational suggestions for contraceptive cover for a teratogenic drug based on animal-to-human dose conversion. For the 28 day miltefosine regimen, post-treatment contraceptive cover may be extended to 4 months, whereas for all shorter regimens 2 months may be adequate.