Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Induction of Nephrotic Syndrome in Mice by Retrobulbar Injection of Doxorubicin and Prevention of Volume Retention by Sustained Release Aprotinin
07:38

Induction of Nephrotic Syndrome in Mice by Retrobulbar Injection of Doxorubicin and Prevention of Volume Retention by Sustained Release Aprotinin

Published on: May 6, 2018

Effect of tobramycin on fractional sodium excretion in neonates

A D Rothberg, S Andronikou

    Pediatric Pharmacology (New York, N.Y.)
    |January 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Tobramycin treatment in neonates elevated fractional sodium excretion (FENa), indicating potential kidney effects. FENa normalized after discontinuing the antibiotic, suggesting reversible renal tubular dysfunction.

    Area of Science:

    • Neonatal Medicine
    • Pharmacology
    • Nephrology

    Background:

    • Neonates often receive aminoglycosides like tobramycin for infections.
    • Renal function, including fractional sodium excretion (FENa), undergoes changes in early life.
    • Subtle renal tubular dysfunction can occur with certain medications.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the impact of tobramycin on fractional sodium excretion (FENa) in neonates.
    • To assess the reversibility of any observed changes in FENa after tobramycin cessation.
    • To evaluate for concurrent alterations in blood urea and creatinine levels.

    Main Methods:

    • Fractional sodium excretion (FENa) was measured in 25 neonates receiving tobramycin.
    • Measurements were taken during and after the course of antibiotic treatment.
    • Infant characteristics like birthweight and gestational age were recorded.

    Main Results:

    • Mean FENa values were consistently elevated in neonates during tobramycin therapy.
    • FENa levels returned to the normal range within two days of completing antibiotic treatment.
    • Blood urea and creatinine concentrations remained within normal limits throughout the study period.

    Conclusions:

    • Tobramycin exposure appears to delay the normal postnatal decline in FENa in neonates.
    • This delay likely signifies mild renal tubular dysfunction induced by the aminoglycoside.
    • The observed renal effects seem reversible upon discontinuation of tobramycin.

    More Related Videos

    Transdermal Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Mechanically Ventilated Piglets07:41

    Transdermal Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Mechanically Ventilated Piglets

    Published on: September 13, 2022

    Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits06:46

    Implantation of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Telemetry Devices in Neonatal Rabbit Kits

    Published on: February 28, 2025

    Related Concept Videos

    Renal Drug Excretion: Tubular Secretion01:28

    Renal Drug Excretion: Tubular Secretion

    Active tubular secretion is a robust, energy-demanding process that utilizes carrier systems to transport drugs into renal tubules. The active renal secretion systems include the organic anion transporter (OAT) for weak acids and the organic cation transporter (OCT) for weak bases. Structurally similar drugs can compete for the same transporter, potentially leading to drug accumulation and toxicity. However, this principle can be exploited therapeutically. One example is probenecid (Probalan),...
    Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations01:15

    Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations

    Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is commonly administered via intermittent intravenous infusion to treat severe infections. An intermittent one-hour infusion of gentamicin, administered at eight-hour intervals, allows for precise control of plasma drug concentrations, minimizing toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic principles govern the dynamics of plasma concentrations and can be mathematically described using specific equations.The plasma drug concentration...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

    Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

    Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

    In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

    In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...