PMID: 8602384Nov 1, 1995Paper

The effects of age and chemotherapy on gentamicin pharmacokinetics and dosing in pediatric oncology patients

Pharmacotherapy
K K HoC L Leson

Abstract

We attempted to determine the effects of prior antineoplastic chemotherapy and age on gentamicin pharmacokinetics in children (age 1-18 yrs) with cancer and in controls, and to establish a protocol for gentamicin dosing and monitoring to ensure rapid attainment of therapeutic serum concentrations in these patients. In a prospective controlled study, patients with fever who were receiving empiric gentamicin for confirmed or suspected infections were separated into three groups: 29 with cancer who were receiving a continuing chemotherapy protocol with nonnephrotoxic antineoplastic agents; 23 with cancer who were receiving a continuing chemotherapy protocol with nephrotoxic antineoplastic agents; and 25 control patients who did not have cancer. Three blood samples (one predose, two postdose concentrations), collected between the third and sixth gentamicin doses from each patient, were analyzed by the Emit assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and gentamicin dosages recommended based on the Sawchuk-Zaske method of serum level interpretation. When normalized by body weight, there was no significant difference in clearance, volume of distribution, and half-life between the control group and either group of patients with c...Continue Reading

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