title: Steady-state pharmacokinetics of zidovudine in Chinese HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (AZT) are possibly influenced by weight, age, sex, liver and renal functions, severity of disease, and ethnicity. Currently, little information is available on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of AZT in Chinese HIV-infected patients. The current study aimed to characterize the steady-state pharmacokinetics of AZT in a Chinese set-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven Chinese HIV-infected patients were involved in the steady-state pharmacokinetic study. In total, 300 mg of AZT, as a part of combination therapy, was given to patients, and serial blood samples were collected for 12 hours. The samples were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay, and the results were analyzed by both the non-compartment model and the one-compartment model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The C(max) of AZT in Chinese patients was higher than that in non-Asian patients. The half-life of AZT, analyzed by the non-compartment model (P = 0.02), in male patients ((1.02 ± 0.22) hours) was shorter than that of AZT in female patients ((1.55 ± 0.29) hours). The AZT clearance, analyzed by the one-compartment model (P = 0.045), in male patients ((262.60 ± 28.13) L/h) was higher than that in female patients ((195.85 ± 60.51) L/h).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides valuable information for the clinical practice of AZT-based highly active antiretroviral therapy in a Chinese set-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Zheng-Yin
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Tai-Sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine