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A simple method for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate by gentamicin pharmacokinetics during routine drug monitoring in the newborn
Author(s) -
Koren Gideon,
James Andrew,
Perlman Max
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1985.245
Subject(s) - renal function , gentamicin , pharmacokinetics , medicine , creatinine , volume of distribution , urology , urine , plasma clearance , trough concentration , elimination rate constant , aminoglycoside , distribution volume , antibiotics , chemistry , biochemistry
Assessment of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the newborn is often imprecise because of difficulties in urine collection and because the plasma creatinine level, the traditional marker of renal function, is influenced by many factors in this age group. Gentamicin is given to most preterm infants for suspected or proved sepsis. This drug is eliminated almost entirely by the kidney and its rate of elimination parallels the GFR. We calculated gentamicin pharmacokinetic parameters (t ½ , volume of distribution, and clearance) from three consecutive concentration‐time points (trough, peak, and next trough levels) in 38 newborn infants. Creatinine clearance was measured by the conventional method. Both t ½ (r = 0.74; P < 0.001) and gentamicin clearance (r = 0.77; P < 0.001) correlated well with measured creatinine clearance. There was no correlation between these variables and urine output. Gentamicin elimination t ½ and clearance are useful indices of GFR in the newborn infant and can be easily calculated during routine therapeutic drug monitoring. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1985) 38 , 680–685; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1985.245