title: Ex vivo human placental transfer of rifampin and rifabutin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the ex vivo human placental transfer of rifampin and rifabutin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven placentas from uncomplicated term vaginal or cesarean deliveries were studied utilizing the ex vivo single cotyledon perfusion system. Antipyrine was used for the reference compound in the determination of the clearance indices of rifampin and rifabutin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clearance indices of rifampin at maternal concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mug/ml were 0.12 +/- 0.05 and 0.12 +/- 0.11, respectively. The clearance indices of rifabutin at maternal concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mug/ml were 0.44 +/- 0.11 and 0.37 +/- 0.15, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of its greater lipophilicity, rifabutin was found to have a greater clearance than rifampin. However, because of rifabutin's trend toward greater deposition in tissue, there was proportionately less accumulation of rifabutin in the fetal circulation when compared to rifampin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas TX 75235-9032 USA.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wimberley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobhi
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bawdon