The pharmacokinetics of furazlocillin in healthy humans.

The pharmacokinetics of the novel acylureidopenicillin furazlocillin, 6-[D-2-(3-furfurylidenamino-2-oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamido)-2 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamido]-penicillanic acid and of its penicilloic acid derivative were investigated in five healthy male volunteers after intravenous administration of 2 and 4 g dosages. The volunteers were either in a lying or sitting position throughout the duration of the studies. The concentrations of the drug in plasma and urine were measured by two different methods in parallel: a microbiological assay and a newly developed high pressure liquid chromatography method. The latter method was also applicable for quantitation of the penicilloic acid derivative in these biological fluids. The drug's plasma protein binding (66%) and apparent red cell-plasma partition coefficient (0.055) were concentration independent. The pharmacokinetics of the drug were first order only at the lower dose level. The apparent half lives of three distinguishable phases were, respectively, 4(t1/21), 18 (t1/22), and 64 (t1/2z) min. The total and renal clearances of the drug were, respectively, 303 and 79 ml/min. The latter value implied tubular secretion of the drug. Graphical and digital computer analyses of the data were performed with a linear three compartment body model. Small but consistent deviations from linear kinetics caused by the nonrenal elimination route were observed after administration of the higher dose (4 g). In contrast, renal elimination showed no such dose dependency and was first order. The disposition kinetics of furazlocillin were body position independent. The penicilloic acid derivative of furazlocillin was found in plasma and urine in all the five subjects tested. The percentage of the dose excreted renally as the derivative amounted, respectively, to 5.2 and 7.0% after the lower and higher dosage of furazlocillin, with significant inter- and intrasubject variability. The renal clearance of the derivative was 41 ml/min.