Pharmacokinetics of amikacin (BB-K8) in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

The pharmacokinetics of Amikacin (BB-K8) was studied after administration in an i.v. bolus injection of 7.5 mg/kg to 10 patients with terminal renal impairment undergoing dialysis sessions of 6 hours. A two-compartment kinetic model has been used to describe the bi-phasic decrease of the plasma concentrations of the antibiotic thus establishing the amounts of the antibiotic in the central and peripheral compartments, its elimination being principally through the kidney. During the hemodialysis sessions the average pharmacokinetic parameters of the Amikacin were: alpha = 3.422 h-1 beta = 0.176 h-1 K12 = 1.820 h-1 K21 = 1.327 H-1, K13 = 0.450 h-1, Vc = 9.242 l Vp = 11.455 l Vdss = 20.697 l and delta = 0.377 l/kg. A dosage regimen as a function of the pharmacokinetic parameters is established for patients with terminal renal impairment which guarantees safe and efficient concentrations of the antibiotic.