Netilmicin pharmacokinetics in uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis

The pharmacokinetics of netilmicin after i.v. administration were studied in 10 adult hemodialyzed patients during and after a dialysis session. The mean interdialysis half-life was 49.6 h, whereas during dialysis this value was reduced to 5.02 h. The mean volume of distribution of netilmicin was about 20% of the total body weight. The dialyzer clearance of netilmicin, measured at 60 and 150 min after the beginning of the session, was about 50 ml/min; this means that 60-65% of the drug may be lost during the 4.5 h standard dialysis. The total body clearance of netilmicin was similar to the dialyzer clearance values, suggesting that the drug is eliminated almost entirely by hemodialysis and that its renal elimination in our patients is negligible. In conclusion, in uremic hemodialyzed patients netilmicin behaves like other aminoglycosides.