The pharmacokinetic behaviour of chloramphenicol in liver-damaged mini-pigs

Using mini-pigs with an indwelling vascular catheter, the pharmacokinetics of chloramphenicol were investigated in healthy and liver-damaged animals. The liver damage was induced by thioacetamide and its degree was estimated by measuring the level of bile acids in serum. Employing a two-compartment open model for analysing the time-dependent course of the chloramphenicol concentration in serum, it was shown that in liver-damaged animals the elimination half-time was almost doubled as a result of reduced total body clearance. The consequences of liver damage for withdrawal times and dosage schedules are discussed.