Pharmacokinetics of high dose melphalan.

A pharmacokinetic study of high dose intravenous melphalan, 180 mg/m2, was performed in eight patients. Plasma levels of melphalan declined in a biexponential fashion with a mean terminal half-life (t 1/2 beta) of 61 min (range 40.3-132.8 min). Estimated peak concentrations ranged from 5.45 to 16.57 mcg/ml. The average volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) and clearance were 0.479 +/- 0.164 l/kg and 6.73 +/- 1.60 ml/min/kg, respectively. These kinetic parameters are similar to those reported from studies using lower doses of melphalan.