title: Analgesic plasma concentrations of morphine in children with terminal malignancy receiving a continuous subcutaneous infusion of morphine sulfate to control severe pain.
abstract: Three children with terminal malignancy received a continuous subcutaneous infusion of morphine sulfate for the control of severe pain, the morphine dose being adjusted until the patient and/or parent reported complete freedom from pain. Analgesic plasma morphine concentrations at the steady state in these patients ranged from 12.9 to 57 ng/ml (median 19.6 ng/ml) while receiving morphine doses of 0.45-2.0 mg/h (0.034-0.06 mg/kg/h). One patient, who received 2 mg morphine per hour for 12 days demonstrated a 2-fold variation in steady-state plasma concentration during this period.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine