PHARMACOKINETICS AND RENAL-FUNCTION IN PRETERM INFANTS

There is an increase in the survival rate of preterm infants due to ra pid advances in medical knowledge and technology. However, the researc h and attention paid to the proper use of pharmacotherapy in these inf ants is still a relatively underdeveloped field. Effective and safe dr ug therapy requires a thorough understanding of human developmental bi ology and of the dynamic ontogeny of drug absorption, drug disposition ? drug metabolism, and drug excretion. It is apparent that maturation of organ system function and changes in body composition during gestat ion and during the neonatal period exert a significant effect on the d isposition of drugs. This review focuses on the effects of maturationa l and drug-induced changes in renal function on clinical pharmacokinet ics in the preterm infant.