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Pediatric pharmacokinetics: human development and drug disposition

Ryan S Funk1, Jacob T Brown, Susan M Abdel-Rahman

  • 1Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Medical Toxicology, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|October 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Human development involves anatomic and physiologic changes affecting how the body processes drugs. Understanding these developmental changes aids clinicians in safely prescribing medications for children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric medicine

Background:

  • Human development encompasses significant anatomic and physiologic transformations from zygote to adult.
  • Drug interactions with the body change considerably throughout human maturation.
  • Altered drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) impact efficacy and toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of developmental biology in understanding drug disposition.
  • To inform clinicians on optimizing medication use in pediatric populations.
  • To underscore the implications of developmental changes on pharmacokinetics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of developmental biology principles.
  • Analysis of pharmacokinetic changes during human maturation.
  • Integration of drug disposition mechanisms with clinical practice.

Main Results:

  • Drug pharmacokinetics are profoundly influenced by developmental stage.
  • Variations in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are critical.
  • Knowledge of developmental drug disposition enhances safe and effective prescribing.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding developmental biology is crucial for pediatric pharmacotherapy.
  • Clinicians can judiciously use medications by considering developmental changes.
  • This knowledge complements, but does not replace, pediatric pharmacokinetic studies.

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