Plasma levels of zidovudine twice daily compared with three times daily in six HIV-1-infected children.
OBJECTIVE
Zidovudine is often administered every 12 h in HIV-infected children, but so far no pharmacokinetic data are available for the administration of this agent every 12 h. We have evaluated the plasma pharmacokinetics of zidovudine administered every 8 h versus every 12 h in HIV-1-infected children.


METHODS
In HIV-1-infected children who switched from zidovudine every 8 h to every 12 h, a pharmacokinetic curve was recorded both before and after the switch. Zidovudine plasma levels were measured by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental methods.


RESULTS
Six HIV-1-infected children [median age (range) 7.8 (2.5-13.4) years] were included. In these patients, geometric mean ratios of AUC(0-24) and C(max) for zidovudine every 12 h versus every 8 h were not significantly different from 1.0.


CONCLUSIONS
The plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of zidovudine taken every 8 h and every 12 h were not significantly different and therefore suggest bioequivalence of these two dose frequencies.
Bergshoeff
Alina S
AS
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Fraaij
Pieter L A
PL
Verweij
Corrien
C
van Rossum
Annemarie M C
AM
Verweel
Gwenda
G
Hartwig
Nico G
NG
de Groot
Ronald
R
Burger
David M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D015215:Zidovudine