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Gentamicin pharmacokinetics in kwashiorkor
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|November 1, 1979
Insights
Gentamicin dosing in children with kwashiorkor achieved therapeutic levels without toxicity. However, gentamicin
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Nutritional Medicine
Background:
- Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition, affects renal function.
- Altered renal function in kwashiorkor can impact drug clearance.
- Gentamicin is an antibiotic commonly used for bacterial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate gentamicin pharmacokinetics in children with kwashiorkor.
- To determine if standard gentamicin dosing is safe and effective in this population.
- To assess the impact of nutritional rehabilitation on gentamicin elimination.
Main Methods:
- Single intravenous dose of gentamicin (2.4 mg/kg) administered to six children.
- Blood samples collected to measure gentamicin concentrations over time.
- Pharmacokinetic parameters, including half-life, were calculated.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic gentamicin concentrations were achieved.
- Initial gentamicin half-life was prolonged (229.0 +/- 94.8 min) during the acute phase.
- Gentamicin half-life normalized (178.5 +/- 99.5 min) after nutritional rehabilitation.
Conclusions:
- Standard gentamicin dosing can achieve therapeutic concentrations in children with kwashiorkor.
- Renal impairment in kwashiorkor prolongs gentamicin half-life.
- Nutritional rehabilitation improves gentamicin clearance, normalizing its half-life.
Abstract:
1 Single dose intravenous gentamicin kinetics (2.4 mg/kg) were studied in six children with kwashiorkor. It was observed, that therapeutic drug concentrations were achieved which should be neither oto- nor nephrotoxic. 2 Due to the diminished glomerular filtration and renal plasma flow seen in the acute phase of kwashiorkor, gentamicin half-life was prolonged (229.0 +/- 94.8 min) at this time returning to normal (178.5 +/- 99.5 min) with nutritional rehabilitation.