EFFECT OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AND ITS TREATMENT ON SINGLE-DOSE PHENYTOIN BIOAVAILABILITY

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency, which leads to str uctural functional and enzymatic changes in the body that may affect t he pharmacokinetics of drugs. The present study in 7 normal volunteers and 8 adult male patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was done to investigate the effect of iron deficiency and its treatment with t otal dose iron (TDI) on the bioavailability of a single dose of phenyt oin. Phenytoin bioavailability was investigated before and 3 and 28 da ys after TDI. The bioavailability parameters C(max), t(max), AUC and 2 h phenytoin concentrations were not significantly different in anaemi c patients as compared to normal volunteers before or after treatment, except for an increase in t(max) 28 days after TDI treatment.