Pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone in normal subjects and patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

The pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone were studied and compared in four normal subjects and six patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) with mild liver disease but marked portal hypertension. All subjects received a 2 g intravenous infusion of cefoperazone over 15 min. Although most pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly between normal subjects and patients with HSS, the serum beta half-life of cefoperazone was longer in patients with HSS compared to normal subjects (3.0 h vs. 1.7 h). This demonstrates only mild impairment of excretion of cefoperazone in patients with HSS.