Clinical pharmacokinetics in patients with burns

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Burn injuries cause complex physiological changes impacting drug disposition.
• Altered drug pharmacokinetics can lead to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how burn injuries affect drug pharmacokinetics.
• To discuss the implications for drug therapy in burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pharmacokinetic alterations post-burn.
• Analysis of factors influencing drug bioavailability, protein binding, volume of distribution, and clearance.
• Discussion of therapeutic consequences and drug monitoring.

Main Results:

• Burn injuries alter drug bioavailability, protein binding, volume of distribution (Vd), and clearance.
• Changes depend on drug properties, injury type/extent, and time since injury.
• Specific drug classes like antibacterials and analgesics may require dose adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Significant pharmacokinetic changes necessitate therapeutic drug monitoring and dosage adjustments in burn patients.
• Further research should investigate patient-specific variables influencing these alterations.