title: Pharmacokinetics of famciclovir in subjects with chronic hepatic disease.
abstract: The pharmacokinetic profile of penciclovir was determined after a single 500-mg dose of its oral precursor, famciclovir, in 9 healthy volunteers and in 14 patients with chronic hepatic disease. Plasma and urine samples were analyzed for concentrations of penciclovir and 6-deoxy-penciclovir using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Famciclovir was not quantifiable in patients with hepatic disease, and 6-deoxy-penciclovir was quantifiable in only a limited number of specimens. The extent of systemic availability of penciclovir, as measured by AUC0-infinity, was similar in patients with hepatic disease and in healthy subjects. In contrast, Cmax was significantly lower (average decrease of 43%) in subjects with hepatic disease relative to healthy normal subjects. Median Tmax for subjects with hepatic disease was significantly increased (by 0.75 hours) compared with subjects with normal liver function. These data suggest a decrease in the rate, but not the extent, of systemic availability of penciclovir in patients with hepatic disease. It should be unnecessary to modify the dose of famciclovir for subjects with compensated hepatic disease and normal renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Boike
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pue
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Audet
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Freed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fairless
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ilson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zariffa
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jorkasky
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D011355:Prodrugs; C053539:penciclovir; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D006147:Guanine; D000077595:Famciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir