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Chloramphenicol succinate kinetics in infants and young children

C M Sack1, J R Koup, K E Opheim

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Division of Infectious Disease, Children's Orthopedic Hospital and Medical Center, Seattle 98105, USA.

Pediatric Pharmacology (New York, N.Y.)
|January 1, 1982
PubMed

Insights

Urinary excretion of chloramphenicol succinate (CmS) impacts its bioavailability and subsequent chloramphenicol (Cm) levels in children. However, CmS half-life variations minimally affect Cm half-life, suggesting prodrug excretion is key.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Metabolism

Background:

  • Chloramphenicol succinate (CmS) is a prodrug used for intravenous administration of chloramphenicol (Cm).
  • Understanding the pharmacokinetics of CmS and its influence on Cm is crucial for optimizing pediatric dosing regimens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the serum and urine pharmacokinetics of CmS in pediatric patients.
  • To evaluate how variations in CmS pharmacokinetic parameters affect the kinetics of the active drug, Cm.

Main Methods:

  • Serum and urine samples were analyzed from 24 infants and young children (2 weeks to 7 years).
  • Pharmacokinetic parameters including half-life (T(1/2)), body clearance, and volume of distribution were estimated for CmS.
  • Urinary excretion of CmS was quantified over the dosing interval.

Main Results:

  • The mean T(1/2) of CmS was 0.40 hours, with a mean body clearance of 0.72 L/kg/hr and a mean apparent volume of distribution of 0.42 L/kg.
  • Urinary excretion accounted for a mean of 35% of the administered CmS dose.
  • No significant correlation was found between CmS T(1/2) and Cm T(1/2) (r² = 0.002, P = 0.84).
  • Infusion duration did not alter urinary CmS loss.

Conclusions:

  • Variations in urinary CmS excretion significantly influence the bioavailability of Cm.
  • The amount of CmS excreted in urine impacts secondary pharmacokinetic parameters like volume of distribution and body clearance of Cm.
  • While urinary prodrug excretion is a critical factor, variations in CmS T(1/2) have minimal impact on Cm T(1/2).

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