[Effect of unilateral nephrectomy on elimination of gentamicin in rabbits]

The aim of the paper was to study the effect of unilateral nephrectomy on gentamicin pharmacokinetics with special reference to elimination process. The study was performed on 19 male rabbits of Belgium race, divided into two groups: control and tested--subjected to nephrectomy. Pharmacokinetic determinations were accomplished in all the animals at the preliminary period, and after 2 weeks, and 3 months following the operation; collecting the blood at time intervals of 6 hours since intravenous administration of gentamicin at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg body mass, every 12 h, both after single and at steady state. The course of changes in concentration was described by means of an open one-compartment model for intravenous administration. The animals deprived of one kidney were found to show more intense defect in gentamicin elimination process than in the control group rabbits. The established results provide a practical conclusion, namely that in patients with one kidney only the necessity of decreasing the gentamicin dose should be taken into account, and, maybe, this can also refer to other drugs eliminated from the organism on the urinary system pathway. This finding is of particular significance involving the drugs with a narrow therapeutic coefficient and distinct toxicity for internal organs as well as hematopoietic system.