SINGLE-DOSE PHARMACOKINETICS OF CETIRIZINE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

The pharmacokinetics of the H-1-receptor antagonist cetirizine were st udied from 0 to 72 hours after a single dose of 20 mg in 5 patients wi th chronic hepatocellular liver disease (group A), in 5 patients with chronic cholestatic liver disease (group B), and in 16 healthy volunte ers. The renal function of patients and volunteers was normal (creatin ine clearance greater-than-or-equal-to 70 mL/min). Cetirizine pharmaco kinetics were similar in the two groups of patients. The elimination t 1/2 was prolonged in patients (mean +/- standard deviation; group A: 1 4.32 +/- 2.30 hours; group B: 13.86 +/- 3.14 hours) in comparison with the values observed in volunteers (9.42 +/- 2.4 hours). A reduced app arent oral body clearance also was observed in patients (group A: .48 +/- .23 mL/min/kg; group B. .41 +/- .09 mL/min/kg) in comparison with volunteers (.74 +/- .19 mL/min/kg). No differences were observed in th e mean cumulative urinary excretion between patients (group A: 69 +/- 15%; group B: 69 +/- 13%) and volunteers (70.7 +/- 7.8%).