Pharmacokinetics of cefoxitin sodium in normal subjects and in uraemic patients

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics data of cefoxitin sodium were determined in normal subjects and in uraemic patients. All subjects (5 normal and 20 uraemic) received 30 mg/kg of cefoxitin i.v. in 30-min. infusions. In healthy subjects, the serum half-life (T ½ ) was 0.78 ±0.10 h, and the apparent volume of distribution (A.V.D.) was 7.70 1. The mean renal clearance was 329 ml/min/1.73 m 2 .For uremic patients we observed a very sharp increase in T ½ when creatinine clearance fell below 30 ml/min compared to 0.78 h in normal subjects, T ½ was 21.56 h in patients with very poor renal function. During a haemodialysis session the serum levels decreased: 86.3% of the initial serum concentration was extracted.