title: [Computer simulations to support drug therapy in children].
abstract: It is known that the human growth is not a linear process and that age-dependent changes in the body composition and organ function may influence both, the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic characteristics of an administered drug. Taking these developmental differences into consideration, it is obvious that an age-appropriate dosing is a major precondition for a safe and effective drug therapy in children. Recently, new simulation techniques, for example the physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling, are used as modem approach to provide information about the age-dependent pharmacokinetic properties in paediatrics, to facilitate the design of clinical trials and to individualize drug treatment in paediatrics. A short overview and an example of improved drug treatment using physiologically based simulations for a patient with a virus infection treated with cidofovir will demonstrate the advantages of simulation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Pharmazie und Pharmakotherapie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitästsstrasse 1, 40255 Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Breddemann
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Läer
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics