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Pharmacokinetics of isoniazid in moderately malnourished children with tuberculosis

V Roy1, D Gupta, P Gupta

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. roy.vandana@gmail.com

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|February 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Moderate malnutrition in children did not significantly alter isoniazid pharmacokinetics. This finding is crucial for tuberculosis treatment in undernourished populations, suggesting standard dosing may be appropriate.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Severe malnutrition impacts isoniazid (INH) pharmacokinetics in children.
  • The effect of moderate malnutrition on INH pharmacokinetics is not well understood.
  • Moderate malnutrition is potentially more prevalent than severe malnutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of moderate malnutrition on isoniazid pharmacokinetics in children with tuberculosis.
  • To determine if moderate malnutrition alters INH absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion.

Main Methods:

  • Administered a single dose of 5 mg/kg isoniazid (INH) to 20 children with tuberculosis.
  • Collected serial blood samples to measure serum INH concentrations.
  • Analyzed pharmacokinetic parameters and compared between undernourished and normal nutrition groups.

Main Results:

  • Serum INH concentrations were higher in the moderately undernourished group.
  • Key pharmacokinetic parameters for INH were comparable between the undernourished and normal nutrition groups.
  • Moderately undernourished children showed significantly greater weight gain after one month of treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Isoniazid pharmacokinetics are likely not significantly altered in children with moderate malnutrition.
  • Standard INH dosing may be suitable for children with moderate malnutrition and tuberculosis.
  • Further research could explore long-term outcomes and optimal nutritional support alongside TB treatment.

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