1
|
Hu L, Huang J, Li Y, He G. Clinical application of voriconazole in pediatric patients: a systematic review. Ital J Pediatr 2024; 50:113. [PMID: 38853280 PMCID: PMC11163776 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01684-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to review the literature on the clinical use of voriconazole (VRC) in pediatric patients. MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000, to August 15, 2023 for relevant clinical studies on VRC use in pediatric patients. Data were collected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a systematic review was performed on recent research related to the use of VRC in pediatric patients. This systematic review included a total of 35 observational studies among which there were 16 studies investigating factors influencing VRC plasma trough concentrations (Ctrough) in pediatric patients, 14 studies exploring VRC maintenance doses required to achieve target range of Ctrough, and 11 studies focusing on population pharmacokinetic (PPK) research of VRC in pediatric patients. Our study found that the Ctrough of VRC were influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors. The optimal dosing of VRC was correlated with age in pediatric patients, and younger children usually required higher VRC doses to achieve target Ctrough compared to older children. Establishing a PPK model for VRC can assist in achieving more precise individualized dosing in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Juanjuan Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanfei Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Gefei He
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Carlesse F, Paixão de Sousa da Silva AM, Sztajnbok J, Litivinov N, Peron K, Otsuka M, Volpe Arnoni M, Schirmer M, de Oliveira Costa P, Munhoz Cavalcanti de Albuquerque AL, Morales H, Lopez-Medina E, A. Portilla C, Valenzuela R, Motta F, Motta FA, de Almeida Junior JN, Santolaya ME, Lopes Colombo A. Landscape of Invasive Fusariosis in Pediatric Cancer Patients: Results of a Multicenter Observational Study From Latin America. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae285. [PMID: 38872851 PMCID: PMC11170500 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive fusariosis (IF) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection that affects vulnerable hosts. We conducted a multicenter and multinational retrospective study to characterize the natural history and clinical management of IF in pediatric cancer patients. We selected patients <18 years old who were sequentially hospitalized in 10 Latin American medical centers with a diagnosis of IF between 2002 and 2021. Data were collected using an electronic case report form complemented by a dictionary of terms. We assessed mortality rates at 30, 60, and 90 days. We collected data from 60 episodes of IF (median age, 9.8 years) that were mostly documented in patients with hematologic cancer (70%). Other risk conditions found were lymphopenia (80%), neutropenia (76.7%), and corticosteroid exposure (63.3%). IF was disseminated in 55.6% of patients. Skin lesions was present in 58.3% of our patients, followed by pulmonary involvement in 55%, sinusitis in 21.7%, bone/joint involvement in 6.7% and 1 case each of endocarditis and brain abscess. Positive blood and skin biopsy cultures were detected in 60% and 48.3% of cases, respectively. Fusarium solani complex was the most commonly identified agent (66.6%). The majority of patients received monotherapy within the first 72 hours (71.6%), either with voriconazole or amphotericin B formulation. The mortality rates at 30, 60, and 90 days were 35%, 41.6%, and 45%, respectively. An important factor affecting mortality rates appears to be disseminated disease. The high percentage of patients with fungal involvement in multiple organs and systems highlights the need for extensive workup for additional sites of infection in severely immunocompromised children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabianne Carlesse
- Instituto de Oncologia Pediátrica—IOP-GRAACC-UNIFESP, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Jaques Sztajnbok
- Instituto de Tratamento do Cancer Infantil (ITACI), Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, Intensive Care Unit, Department of Emergency Medical Care, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadia Litivinov
- Instituto de Tratamento do Cancer Infantil (ITACI), Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karina Peron
- Instituto de Tratamento do Cancer Infantil (ITACI), Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Schirmer
- Instituto Nacional do Cancer—INCA, Department of Pediatrics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Hugo Morales
- Hospital Erasto Gaertner, Department of Pediatrics, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Lopez-Medina
- Centro de Estudios en Infectología Pediátrica CEIP, Department of Pediatrics, Universidad del Valle, Clínica Imbanaco, Grupo Quironsalud, Cali, Colombia
| | - Carlos A. Portilla
- Centro de Estudios en Infectología Pediátrica CEIP, Department of Pediatrics, Universidad del Valle, Clínica Imbanaco, Grupo Quironsalud, Cali, Colombia
| | - Romina Valenzuela
- Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Dr Luis Calvo Mackenna, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fabrizio Motta
- Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Department of Pediatrics, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - João Nobrega de Almeida Junior
- Departamento de Medicina- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Antimicrobial Resistance Institute of São Paulo (ARIES), Departamento de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Elena Santolaya
- Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Dr Luis Calvo Mackenna, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
- Departamento de Medicina- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Antimicrobial Resistance Institute of São Paulo (ARIES), Departamento de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gastine SE, Rauwolf KK, Pieper S, Hempel G, Lehrnbecher T, Tragiannidis A, Groll AH. Voriconazole plasma concentrations and dosing in paediatric patients below 24 months of age. Mycoses 2023; 66:969-976. [PMID: 37553971 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Voriconazole (VCZ) is an important first-line option for management of invasive fungal diseases and approved in paediatric patients ≥24 months at distinct dosing schedules that consider different developmental stages. Information on dosing and exposures in children <24 months of age is scarce. Here we report our experience in children <24 months who received VCZ due to the lack of alternative treatment options. This retrospective analysis includes 50 distinct treatment episodes in 17 immunocompromised children aged between 3 and <24 months, who received VCZ between 2004 and 2022 as prophylaxis (14 patients; 47 episodes) or as empirical treatment (3 patients; 3 episodes) by mouth (46 episodes) or intravenously (4 episodes) based on contraindications, intolerance or lack of alternative options. Trough concentrations were measured as clinically indicated, and tolerability was assessed based on hepatic function parameters and discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs). VCZ was administered for a median duration of 10 days (range: 1-138). Intravenous doses ranged from 4.9 to 7.0 mg/kg (median: 6.5) twice daily, and oral doses from 3.8 to 29 mg/kg (median: 9.5) twice daily, respectively. The median trough concentration was 0.63 mg/L (range: 0.01-16.2; 38 samples). Only 34.2% of samples were in the recommended target range of 1-6 mg/L; 57.9% had lower and 7.9% higher trough concentrations. Hepatic function parameters analysed at baseline, during treatment and at end of treatment did not show significant changes during VCZ treatment. There was no correlation between dose and exposure or hepatic function parameters. In three episodes, VCZ was discontinued due to an AE (6%; three patients). In conclusion, this retrospective analysis reveals no signal for increased toxicity in paediatric patients <24 months of age. Empirical dosing resulted in mostly subtherapeutic exposures which emphasises the need for more systematic study of the pharmacokinetics of VCZ in this age group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silke E Gastine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry - Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Westphalian Wilhelms University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kerstin K Rauwolf
- Infectious Disease Research Program, Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephanie Pieper
- Infectious Disease Research Program, Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Georg Hempel
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry - Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Westphalian Wilhelms University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Lehrnbecher
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Athanasios Tragiannidis
- Infectious Disease Research Program, Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreas H Groll
- Infectious Disease Research Program, Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kably B, Launay M, Derobertmasure A, Lefeuvre S, Dannaoui E, Billaud EM. Antifungal Drugs TDM: Trends and Update. Ther Drug Monit 2022; 44:166-197. [PMID: 34923544 DOI: 10.1097/ftd.0000000000000952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The increasing burden of invasive fungal infections results in growing challenges to antifungal (AF) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in AF TDM. METHODS We conducted a PubMed search for articles during 2016-2020 using "TDM" or "pharmacokinetics" or "drug-drug-interaction" with "antifungal," consolidated for each AF. Selection was limited to English language articles with human data on drug exposure. RESULTS More than 1000 articles matched the search terms. We selected 566 publications. The latest findings tend to confirm previous observations in real-life clinical settings. The pharmacokinetic variability related to special populations is not specific but must be considered. AF benefit-to-risk ratio, drug-drug interaction (DDI) profiles, and minimal inhibitory concentrations for pathogens must be known to manage at-risk situations and patients. Itraconazole has replaced ketoconazole in healthy volunteers DDI studies. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling is widely used to assess metabolic azole DDI. AF prophylactic use was studied more for Aspergillus spp. and Mucorales in oncohematology and solid organ transplantation than for Candida (already studied). Emergence of central nervous system infection and severe infections in immunocompetent individuals both merit special attention. TDM is more challenging for azoles than amphotericin B and echinocandins. Fewer TDM requirements exist for fluconazole and isavuconazole (ISZ); however, ISZ is frequently used in clinical situations in which TDM is recommended. Voriconazole remains the most challenging of the AF, with toxicity limiting high-dose treatments. Moreover, alternative treatments (posaconazole tablets, ISZ) are now available. CONCLUSIONS TDM seems to be crucial for curative and/or long-term maintenance treatment in highly variable patients. TDM poses fewer cost issues than the drugs themselves or subsequent treatment issues. The integration of clinical pharmacology into multidisciplinary management is now increasingly seen as a part of patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Kably
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP Centre
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Manon Launay
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie-Gaz du sang, Hôpital Nord-CHU Saint Etienne, Saint-Etienne
| | - Audrey Derobertmasure
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP Centre
| | - Sandrine Lefeuvre
- Laboratoire de Toxicologie et Pharmacocinétique, CHU de Poitiers, Poitiers; and
| | - Eric Dannaoui
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Eliane M Billaud
- Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP Centre
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Impact of CYP2C19 Phenotype and Drug-Drug Interactions on Voriconazole Concentration in Pediatric Patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0020721. [PMID: 34152823 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00207-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Voriconazole (VRC), a first-line agent for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, is mainly metabolized by human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19. In this study, a retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the key factors that influence the plasma trough concentration (Cmin) of VRC, and an appropriate dosing regimen for pediatric patients was drafted subsequently. Overall, factors such as age, CYP2C19 phenotype, and combination medication with proton pump inhibitors accounted for 23.4% of variability in dose-normalized Cmin values of VRC by a multiple linear regression analysis. Dose-normalized Cmin values in the poor metabolizers (PMs) and intermediate metabolizers (IMs) were significantly higher than those in extensive metabolizers (EMs) (P < 0.001). To achieve therapeutic Cmin for CYP2C19 ultrarapid metabolizers (UMs) or EMs, patients aged no more than 12 and more than 12 years required doses of 6.53 ± 2.08 and 3.95 ± 0.85 mg/kg of body weight twice daily (P = 0.007). For CYP2C19 PMs or IMs, patients aged under 12 and over 12 years required doses of 5.75 ± 1.73 and 4.23 ± 0.76 mg/kg twice daily, respectively (P = 0.019). Furthermore, coadministration of rifamycin sodium or omeprazole exhibited significant effects on VRC Cmin. Taken together, it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of CYP2C19 phenotype and drug-drug interactions to achieve optimal therapy.
Collapse
|
6
|
Bury D, Tissing WJE, Muilwijk EW, Wolfs TFW, Brüggemann RJ. Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Triazoles in Pediatric Patients. Clin Pharmacokinet 2021; 60:1103-1147. [PMID: 34002355 PMCID: PMC8416858 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-021-00994-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Triazoles represent an important class of antifungal drugs in the prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal disease in pediatric patients. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of triazoles in children is crucial to providing optimal care for this vulnerable population. While the pharmacokinetics is extensively studied in adult populations, knowledge on pharmacokinetics of triazoles in children is limited. New data are still emerging despite drugs already going off patent. This review aims to provide readers with the most current knowledge on the pharmacokinetics of the triazoles: fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole. In addition, factors that have to be taken into account to select the optimal dose are summarized and knowledge gaps are identified that require further research. We hope it will provide clinicians guidance to optimally deploy these drugs in the setting of a life-threatening disease in pediatric patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Didi Bury
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim J E Tissing
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eline W Muilwijk
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pharmacy, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tom F W Wolfs
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roger J Brüggemann
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Leroux S, Mechinaud-Heloury F, Jacqz-Aigrain E. Contribution of Population Pharmacokinetics of Glycopeptides and Antifungals to Dosage Adaptation in Paediatric Onco-hematological Malignancies: A Review. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:635345. [PMID: 33867986 PMCID: PMC8048069 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.635345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The response to medications in children differs not only in comparison to adults but also between children of the different age groups and according to the disease. This is true for anti-infectives that are widely prescribed in children with malignancy. In the absence of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic paediatric studies, dosage is frequently based on protocols adapted to adults. After a short presentation of the drugs, we reviewed the population pharmacokinetic studies available for glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin, n = 5) and antifungals (voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B, n = 9) currently administered in children with onco-hematological malignancies. For each of them, we reported the main study characteristics including identified covariates affecting pharmacokinetics and proposed paediatric dosage recommendations. This review highlighted the very limited amount of data available, the lack of consensus regarding PK/PD targets used for dosing optimization and regarding dosage recommendations when available. Additional PK studies are urgently needed in this specific patient population. In addition to pharmacokinetics, efficacy may be altered in immunocompromised patients and prospective clinical evaluation of new dosage regimen should be provided as they are missing in most cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Leroux
- Department of Paediatrics, CHU Rennes, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France.,Department of Paediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Robert Debré (APHP), Rennes, France
| | | | - Evelyne Jacqz-Aigrain
- Department of Paediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Robert Debré (APHP), Rennes, France.,Paris University, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sassen SDT, Zwaan CM, van der Sluis IM, Mathôt RAA. Pharmacokinetics and population pharmacokinetics in pediatric oncology. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67:e28132. [PMID: 31876123 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacokinetic research has become increasingly important in pediatric oncology as it can have direct clinical implications and is a crucial component in individualized medicine. Population pharmacokinetics has become a popular method especially in children, due to the potential for sparse sampling, flexible sampling times, computing of heterogeneous data, and identification of variability sources. However, population pharmacokinetic reports can be complex and difficult to interpret. The aim of this article is to provide a basic explanation of population pharmacokinetics, using clinical examples from the field of pediatric oncology, to facilitate the translation of pharmacokinetic research into the daily clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiaan D T Sassen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Michel Zwaan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ron A A Mathôt
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
The changes in physiological functions as children grow and organ systems mature result in pharmacokinetic alterations throughout childhood. These alterations in children result in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs that are different from those seen in the typical adult diseased population.
Summary
Changes in gastrointestinal motility and gastric pH in neonates and infants affect the absorption rate and bioavailability of drugs. Skin absorption rate and extent can be altered by different skin structures and perfusion in young children. Intramuscular and rectal absorption become less predictable in children due to erratic absorption site perfusion and other factors. Children’s body compositions also differ greatly from that in adults. Water-soluble drugs distribute more extensively in newborns due to larger water content than in older children and adults. Drug elimination and excretion are also affected in pediatric population due to differences in liver and renal function. Immature enzyme development and renal function result in reduced clearance of drugs in young children. There are limited pharmacokinetic data available for many drugs used in children.
Conclusion
Considering the changes in pharmacokinetics in children can help pharmacists optimize the dosing and monitoring of drugs and do the best they can to help this vulnerable population.
Collapse
|