Clinical pharmacokinetics of albendazole in children with neurocysticercosis.
The pharmacokinetics of albendazole sulphoxide, the main metabolite of albendazole, were studied in eight children with brain cysticercosis. Albendazole was given as a single oral dose of 15 mg per kg body weight (Zentel suspension; Smith Kline & Beecham, Philadelphia, PA). Blood samples were taken during 24 h and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Plasma levels showed great interindividual variation. Maximum plasma levels for albendazole sulphoxide ranged from 0.2-1.0 microg/mL. A double peak was found in four children. The half-life for albendazole sulphoxide was from 2.3-8.3 hours and mean residence time values were from 5. 1-13.6 hours. These values are shorter than those found in adults. The results suggest that when treating children with neurocysticercosis, albendazole should be administered three times a day rather than twice daily as is currently done in Mexico.
Jung
H
H
National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, S.S. México.
Sánchez
M
M
González-Astiazarán
A
A
Martínez
J M
JM
Suástegui
R
R
González-Esquivel
D F
DF
D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole