[Intra-arterial infusion. I. Kinetic studies on local blood levels]

In dogs the concentrations of agents infused continuously into arteries were assessed in the local and in the systemic circulation. An equation for the gradient between the local and the systemic circulation indicates that in the steady state the gradient is directly proportional to the total clearance of the infused drug and inversely proportional to the blood flow in the infused artery. Within certain limits the gradient is independent of the infused quantity of the drug. By local infusions of antibiotics, such as cefazolin a considerably higher local concentration can be achieved if the local blood flow is impaired, e.g. by arterial disease. By local infusions of streptokinase an increased local fibrinolysis was observed only when the arterial circulation was considerably reduced. Local intraarterial continuously infusions of pharmacologic agents are especially recommended for patients with arterial disease.