PHARMACOKINETICS OF DEFLAZACORT IN RENAL TRANSPLANTED AND HEMODIALYZED CHILDREN

Deflazacort (DFZ) pharmacokinetics was evaluated in fifteen pediatric patients on chronic hemodialysis or after renal transplantation, and i n three normal children. After overnight fasting: oral DFZ 0.26 +/- 0. 01 mg/kg (mean +/- SEM) was given. Serial blood samples were collected for 360 min and analyzed by HPLC for 21-hydroxy-DFZ (21-HO-DFZ). Seru m concentration profiles and pharmacokinetic parameters were similar i n patients on hemodialysis, renal transplant recipients and normal chi ldren. Elimination half-life was longer in the 9 cyclosporine-treated subjects (108.0 +/- 13.6 min) than in the other nine (71.2 +/- 8.3 min ; p < 0.02). Our finding suggests that, from a pharmacokinetic point o f view DFZ dose adjustment for renal function is not necessary in chil dren with chronic renal failure or after renal transplantation.