All issues > Volume 37(2); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(2):185-192. Published online February 15, 1994.

Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin and Amikacin in Korean Children with Normal Renal Function

Jin Young JY Park¹, Ktung Bae KB Kwon¹, Mee Ran MR Kim¹, Hoan Jong HJ Lee¹, Jin Q JQ Kim², Wan Gyoon WG Shim³, Kyoung Ho KH Park³, Hae Lim HL Chung⁴

¹Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
³Department of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
⁴Department of Pediatrics, Seoul City Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

We analysed retrospectively pharmacokinetic parameters of gentamicin and amikacin in 44 and 58 Korean pediatric patients, respectively, with normal renal function. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from two concentrations in serum by method of Sawchuck. There was wide individual variation in peak serum concentrations of gentamicin and amikacin. Administration of the usually recommended doses yielded subtherapeutic concentration in 47% and 82%, respectevely, of patients in the peak concentrations of gentamicin and amikacin. The volumes of distribution of gentamicin and amikacin in children of over 1 year of age were 0.370.13L/kg and 0.410.13L/kg which are greater than those reported from the western countries. We conclude that the wide individual variation and high frequency of subtherapeutic levels in the peak concentrations of gentamicin and amikacin obtained by usually recommended dosage as well as the narrow safety margin of these of these drugs necessitate monitoring of serum concentration and adjustment of individual dosage regimen early in the course of treatment with aminoglycosides.

Keywords :Gentamicin, Amikacin, Pharmacokinetics