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

Pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on the perinatal use of latamoxef (LMOX, Shiomarin), a new parenteral oxacephem antibiotic, were carried out and the results obtained were as follows: After LMOX was intravenously given to mother at a dose of 1 g, the umbilical cord serum concentration of LMOX reached to peak with 18.4 micrograms/ml in 1 hour 20 minutes and its concentration was higher than the maternal serum after 2 hours 25 minutes and decreased gradually (T 1/2 beta = 1.61 hours). The materno-fetal transfer of LMOX was 71.0%. LMOX showed the good transfer as well as other cephalosporins. After LMOX was intravenously administered to mother at a dose of 1 g, LMOX concentration in milk wasn't detectable up to 12 hours. LMOX was intravenously administered to 18 cases with premature rupture of membrane, at a daily dose of 2 g for 3--6 days. The prophylactic effects were observed in all cases, both mother and neonate. No adverse effects were observed in mother except for 1 case with low grade abnormality of S-GPT, transiently. We observed 3 neonates with jaundice (total bilirubin greater than or equal to 17.0 mg/dl) probably not related to LMOX. It is concluded that LMOX is less toxic, safe and clinically useful antibiotic for the treatment of perinatal infections.