title: Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime in normal and impaired renal function: comparison of high-pressure liquid chromatography and microbiological assays.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime were studied after a single dose of 750 mg was given intravenously to each of 21 male volunteers grouped according to their creatinine clearances; these clearances were 60 to 120, 20 to 59, and less than 20 ml/min per 1.73 m,2 respectively, for groups 1 (12 subjects), 2 (4 subjects), and 3 (5 subjects). Cefuroxime obeyed two-compartment model kinetics in all three groups. Initial serum levels of cefuroxime were approximately 130 microgram/ml in group 1 and 2 and 80 microgram/ml in group 3. the levels then declined rapidly for 0.5 to 1 h after injection. After that time, cefuroxime levels declined more slowly, and the elimination rate became monoexponential. The mean serum half-lives for cefuroxime in groups 2, 2, and 3 were 1.7, 2.4, and 17.6 h, respectively. Mean cefuroxime levels in serum were greater than 8 microgram/ml for 3 h in group 1, for 6 h in group 2, and for 30 h in group 3. Cumulative 24-h urinary excretion accounted for essentially 100% of the dose in group 1 and 2, and for 40% in group 3. Urine levels exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration for susceptible organisms for more than 12 h in all groups. Cefuroxime distribution characteristics were independent of renal function. In patients with creatinine clearances less than 20 ml/min per 1.73 m2, doses of cefuroxime needs to be reduced. A microbiological disk diffusion assay and a high-pressure liquid chromatography assay for cefuroxime yielded statistically identical results, except for serum levels in uremic patients (group 3).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000378:metabolism*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D003401:Creatine; D002444:Cefuroxime