INFLUENCE OF ARTERIOVENOUS HEMOFILTRATION ON TEICOPLANIN ELIMINATION

The pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin infused for 30 min at a dose of 6 mg kg(-1) was studied in 11 infected patients under continuous arterio -venous haemofiltration (CAVH). Serum teicoplanin levels were assayed by h.p.l.c. over 24 h. After 0.5 h, i.e. at the end of the infusion, t he mean plasma concentration was 49.6 +/- 15.1 mg l(-1). At the last s ampling time (24 h), the mean concentration was 2.6 +/- 1.0 mg l(-1). The concentration of teicoplanin was determined in the haemofiltrates. The percentage of the administered dose recovered in the haemofiltrat e was low: less than 1% for seven patients, between 1.8 and 3.7% for t hree patients and 7% for one patient. CAVH patients should be given te icoplanin using the same dosage regimens as previously described for p atients with renal impairment.