Weighting function used for adjustment of multiple-bolus drug dosing.

This paper presents a new method for the adjustment of the multiple-bolus dosing of a drug. The method is based on the weighting function of the system describing the behavior (absorption, distribution and elimination) of the drug in the patient, identified employing a test dose administration of the drug to a patient. This method can be employed for the adjustment of the multiple-bolus dosing of the drugs whose behavior in the patient can be sufficiently described by linear time invariant models. The method allows to estimate loading and maintenance bolus doses of the drug, necessary to reach and maintain prescribed trough levels of the drug in a patient at desired time-points, both (the levels and time-points) specified by treatment requirements. The method is particularly suitable for the adjustment of multiple-bolus dosing of drugs with narrow therapeutical windows or of very expensive products such as the clotting factors. The method is exemplified by the adjustment of the multiple-bolus dosing of factor VIII in postoperative treatment of hemophilia A.