title: Mezlocillin kinetics in hepatic insufficiency.
abstract: To establish elimination kinetics of mezlocillin in patients with hepatic insufficiency, we gave eight normal subjects and four patients with hepatic insufficiency and normal renal function a single 3-gm dose of mezlocillin by intravenous infusion. Subjects with hepatic insufficiency all had serum bilirubins levels of above 3 mg/dl, prothrombin times more than 2 sec longer than control, and creatinine clearances above 60 ml/min. Mezlocillin concentrations were determined by microbiologic assay. Kinetic analysis was by model-independent methods. Elimination half-life was 0.96 hr for subjects with normal liver function and 2.62 hr for patients with hepatic insufficiency. Mean total body clearance for normal subjects was 247 ml/min, while in patients with hepatic insufficiency it was 125.4 ml/min. We conclude that hepatic insufficiency prolongs mezlocillin elimination and suggest that therapeutic guidelines be set up.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008802:Mezlocillin; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D008802:Mezlocillin