title: Comparison of the serum and intracellular pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in healthy and diabetic volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare serum and intracellular pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in healthy volunteers and patients with diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-label, parallel study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with diabetes and 12 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were given a single 500-mg dose of azithromycin followed by 250 mg/day for 2 days. Blood samples were obtained just before and after the third dose for up to 24 hours for serum and 168 hours for intracellular measurement of azithromycin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental methods and compared with a t test. The groups did not differ in maximum concentration, time to maximum concentration, or area under the concentration-time curve in serum or polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Differences in the PMN:serum ratio were observed at the 24-hour time point (healthy 1209 +/- 432, diabetic 859 +/- 286, p=0.051).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin are comparable in diabetics and healthy volunteers. Accumulation of drug in macrophages was slightly lower in patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Klepser
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Klepser
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hunsicker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin