TOLERANCE, PHARMACOKINETICS AND EFFICACY OF ONCE-DAILY AMIKACIN FOR TREATMENT OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA PULMONARY EXACERBATIONS IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Twenty cystic fibrosis patients aged 1.8-22 years (mean +/- SD: 9.6 +/ - 4.8 years) with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary exacerbations were treated with amikacin (AM) (35 mg/kg/day in one daily 30 min infusion) associated with either ceftazidime (200 mg/kg/day in 3 i.v. injection s) (n = 19) or imipenem (n = 1) at the same dose. Glomerular and tubul ar functions (creatinine clearance, 24-h proteinuria, beta(2) microglo bulinuria, lysozymuria) and audiometry remained within normal ranges f rom day 0 to day 14. A peak concentration of AM of 83 +/- 19 mg/l and a trough concentration of 0.8 +/- 0.5 mg/l were observed in blood whil e AM levels in sputum were above the minimal inhibitory concentration 50 from 30 min to 16 h. No serum accumulation of AM was observed durin g tile treatment, From day 0 to day 14, the following changes were obs erved: weight/height ratio: 96%-100% (P < 0.001); daily energy intake: 111%-128% of RDA (P < 0.001); prealbumin: 195-290 mg/l (P < 0.001); f orced viral capacity (FVC): 66%-81% (P < 0.01); forced expiratory volu me in 1 a: 60%-75% (P < 0.01): forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC: 42%-56% (P < 0.01); nocturnal SaO(2) also improved signifi cantly; cardiac rate decreased from 89 +/- 18/min to 76 +/- 16/min (P < 0.001): respiratory rate decreased from 31 +/- 15/min to 26 +/- 10/m in (P < 0.05): inflammatory parameters (white blood cells, polymorphon uclear cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) also improved, Conclusio n Once daily amikacin administration associated with ceftazidime Is we ll tolerated for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary exa cerbations in cystic fibrosis patients. Serum peak levels land diffusi on in sputum are higher than with a conventional schedule.