Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Generation of Fluorescent Protein Fusions in Candida Species
09:27

Generation of Fluorescent Protein Fusions in Candida Species

Published on: March 4, 2017

Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in pediatric patients

K W Brammer1, P E Coates

  • 1Clinical Research Department, Pfizer Central Research, Sandwich, Kent, UK.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|April 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Fluconazole pharmacokinetics in pediatric patients show age-dependent differences. Volume of distribution and elimination rates vary significantly from adults, especially in neonates, informing pediatric dosing strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Drug Metabolism

Background:

  • Fluconazole is a widely used antifungal agent.
  • Pediatric pharmacokinetic data are essential for safe and effective drug use.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential differences in drug disposition between pediatric and adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the pharmacokinetic properties of fluconazole in a diverse pediatric population.
  • To compare fluconazole pharmacokinetics in children and neonates with adult data.
  • To provide a basis for optimizing fluconazole dosage regimens in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Pharmacokinetic analysis of fluconazole in over 100 pediatric patients, including 12 premature neonates.
  • Measurement of key pharmacokinetic parameters such as volume of distribution and clearance.
  • Age-stratified analysis to identify developmental changes in drug disposition.

Main Results:

  • Fluconazole exhibited age-dependent volume of distribution, highest in neonates (1.18-2.25 L/kg) and decreasing to adult levels (0.7 L/kg) by young adulthood.
  • Fluconazole clearance was generally faster in children than adults, with a mean half-life of ~20 hours across pediatric age groups.
  • Neonates showed significantly prolonged elimination half-lives (e.g., 88.6 hours at birth).
  • Good gastrointestinal absorption of fluconazole was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric fluconazole pharmacokinetics differ substantially from adults, particularly in neonates.
  • Age-specific pharmacokinetic data are crucial for developing appropriate pediatric dosing guidelines.
  • These findings support the establishment of evidence-based fluconazole dosage recommendations for children.

More Related Videos

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive 19F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products09:24

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive 19F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products

Published on: August 22, 2017

Induction of Petite Colonies in Candida glabrate via Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy09:06

Induction of Petite Colonies in Candida glabrate via Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy

Published on: March 29, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
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...