Pharmacokinetics of a 24-hour intravenous ketoprofen infusion in children.
BACKGROUND
No pharmacokinetic data are available with respect to the plasma concentration of ketoprofen during intravenous infusion in children.


METHODS
We present here the pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen after a 10-min intravenous infusion of 1 mg/kg followed by a 24-h infusion of 4 mg/kg in 18 children aged 7 months to 16 years. Venous blood samples were collected at 5 min, 1, 2, 4, 24 h following the loading dose, and then 1, 2 and 4 h after the end of the infusion. A validated HPLC method was used to measure plasma levels of ketoprofen.


RESULTS
The steady state plasma concentration of ketoprofen was 2.0 microg/mL (range 1.3-2.7 microg/mL). The clearance of ketoprofen was 0.09 L x h(-1) x kg(-1) (range 0.06-0.13 L x h(-1) x kg(-1)). The distribution volume was 0.16 L/kg (range 0.12-0.21 L/kg). The terminal half-life was 1.3 h (range 0.8-1.7 h).


CONCLUSIONS
The pharmacokinetics of ketopofen in children is similar to that reported in adults. Our results indicate that ketoprofen is a feasible drug for continuous intravenous infusion in acute pain treatment in children.
Kokki
H
H
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. hannu.kokki@nam.fi
Karvinen
M
M
Jekunen
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007660:Ketoprofen; D017409:Sufentanil