Gentamicin removal during intermittent peritoneal dialysis.

Gentamicin removal during intermittent peritoneal dialysis was studied in 13 uremic patients. The peak serum level after 80 mg of gentamicin intravenous drip was 6.00 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml with a serum half-life of 13.6 +/- 4.07 h. The gentamicin dialysate level did not correlate with the corresponding serum concentration. The peritoneal gentamicin clearance (10.0 +/- 3.65 ml/min) correlated with the rate of protein loss, but not with the peritoneal clearances of urea and creatinine. When 4% glucose dialysate was used, the clearance of the drug increased considerably along with the ultrafiltration rate. Adding gentamicin (5 micrograms/ml) to the dialysate resulted in a sustained serum drug level. The mechanism of gentamicin transport through the peritoneal membrane is discussed. The study demonstrated significant removal of gentamicin during intermittent peritoneal dialysis.