Pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in trachoma patients: serum and tear levels.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of single-dose oral azithromycin in the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis through monitoring of tear and serum levels.


METHODS
Nonrandomized, clinical trial.


METHODS
Fourteen school-age children with active trachoma (one failed to complete the study).


METHODS
A single dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg) was administered orally to 14 patients, and tear and serum levels were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography at 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 hours after administration.


METHODS
Azithromycin levels in tears and serum.


RESULTS
Peak levels of 1.53 microg/ml (standard deviation [SD] +/- 0.94) and 0.15 microg/ml (SD +/- 0.04) were obtained at 12 hours in both tears and serum, gradually decreasing over 144 hours. All patients were disease-free by 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of azithromycin in patients with trachoma were found to be within minimum inhibitory concentration range for Chlamydia trachomatis (0.03-0.25 microg/ml) throughout the monitored period of 6 days.
Karcioglu
Z A
ZA
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
El-Yazigi
A
A
Jabak
M H
MH
Choudhury
A H
AH
Ahmed
W S
WS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002648:Child; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D014141:Trachoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin