title: Plasma levels of zidovudine twice daily compared with three times daily in six HIV-1-infected children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alina S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bergshoeff
authors.forename: Pieter L A
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fraaij
authors.forename: Corrien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verweij
authors.forename: Annemarie M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: Gwenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verweel
authors.forename: Nico G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D015215:Zidovudine