Abstract
Pharmacokinetics of aminoglycoside antibiotics vary both within and between different age groups. To determine proper dosing level and interval for children, sequential pharmacokinetics were studied in 10 patients (age = 8.7 yrs). All children had normal renal function. Mean weight and surface area were 29.5 kg and 0.99 m2 respectively.
A dose of 7.5 mg/kg was administered IM q12h. Utilizing an acetyl transferase radioenzymatic assay, sequential serum levels were determined and were as follows (μg/ml ± SD) : Oh=0; ½h=13.0 ± 4.0; 1h=12.2 ± 3.3; 2h=8.9 ± 3.3; 4h=3.1 ± 1.8; 6h=1.5 ± 1.3; 8h=< 1.0. Drug was undetectable in serum after 8 hrs. No accumulation was observed. Mean peak serum: mean urine (0-12h) ratio was 1:20. There was no evidence of toxiclty.
Utilizing this dosage regimen, the t½ in our patients (1.7h) was 23% shorter than that in adult subjects (2.2h). The mean peak serum level (13μg/ml) was 35% lower than in adults (20μg/ml).
These data suggest that children require larger doses of amikacin administered at more frequent intervals than those utilized in this study.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lewin, E., Le, C. & Klemperer, M. PHARMACOKINETICS OF AMIKACIN IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 11, 418 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00291
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00291