title: Application of cutaneous microdialysis to evaluate metronidazole and its main metabolite concentrations in the skin after a single oral dose.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the concentration of metronidazole and its hydroxymetabolite in plasma and cutaneous microdialysates and to compare metronidazole penetration into cutaneous microdialysates against theoretical predicted penetration in a peripheral compartment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single oral dose of 2 g of the parent drug was administered to 10 healthy male volunteers. Microdialysis probes with 2 kDa molecular weight cut-off were inserted intradermally and were perfused with Ringer solution up to 8 h after drug ingestion. Drug and metabolite concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean maximum concentration in plasma, cutaneous microdialysates and theoretical peripheral compartment were 214 +/- 49, 151 +/- 52 and 146 +/- 38 micromol/L, respectively, and were achieved after about 2.1 +/- 0.8, 2.8 +/- 1.0 and 6.0 +/- 2.9 h. The extent of penetration into cutaneous microdialysates and theoretical peripheral compartment relative to plasma were 0.672 +/- 0.196 and 0.675 +/-0.207, respectively, and did not differ significantly. Moreover, maximum concentration as well as area under concentration-time curve in these compartments also did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of cutaneous microdialysis technique permits the characterization of true systemic drug disposition, for optimizing drug treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Dermatopharmacotherapy Division, Department of Dermatology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. adklim@sci.pam.szczecin.pl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bielecka-Grzela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klimowicz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole