[Experimental and clinical studies on latamoxef during the perinatal period]

Fundamental and clinical studies on the perinatal use of latamoxef (LMOX) were performed, with the following results. Concentration of LMOX was examined in maternal serum, umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid after intravenous administration of 2 g dose. Data were analyzed by the simulation curves using the two-compartment model. The peak level of LMOX in maternal serum was 218.4 micrograms/ml and half-life of the beta-phase was 1.9 hours. The peak levels of LMOX in umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid were 37.4 micrograms/ml (1.4 hours) and 27.5 micrograms/ml (8.9 hours) after administration. The concentration of LMOX in amniotic fluid decreased in amount after the peak, but it still remained 21.9 micrograms/ml (16 hours) after administration. Above these results, it was concluded that the transfer of LMOX to umbilical cord serum and to amniotic fluid was sufficient. In clinical use, LMOX was administered to 30 pregnant patients with premature rupture of membrane. It showed excellent efficacy in preventing perinatal infection. Seven patients with perinatal infections were treated with LMOX and all of them had excellent efficacy. No side effects were observed in any of the cases studied.