title: Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children with the nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish whether the criteria for the clinical effectiveness of steroids are correlated with the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children treated with prednisone during an attack of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Thirteen patients with nephrosis were included. Prednisolone, prednisone and cortisol levels were measured using a specific high-performance liquid chromatography assay after an oral dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of prednisone taken at the onset of the disease. All the pharmacokinetic parameters, including the conversion of prednisone to prednisolone were similar to the data already published in children with INS. No correlation was found between the values of pharmacokinetic parameters and criteria of clinical effectiveness. Hypo-albuminaemia was significantly correlated with the area under the plasma-concentration curve but not with the elimination half-life of prednisolone. Moreover, the prednisolone elimination half-life correlated with the urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids achieved in the first 6 h. The present study suggests that routine measurements of prednisolone kinetics do not help when assessing the treatment of children with INS.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, CHU, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barthe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Houin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvinerie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bouissou
mesh_terms: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000097:blood; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D012709:Serum Albumin; D011239:Prednisolone; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone