Cv. Fletcher et al., Pharmacologic characteristics of indinavir, didanosine, and stavudine in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children receiving combination therapy, ANTIM AG CH, 44(4), 2000, pp. 1029-1034
The use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors in childr
en has lagged behind that in adults because of the lack of suitable pediatr
ic formulations and information on safe and effective dosing regimens. This
study was designed to obtain pharmacokinetic information on indinavir, adm
inistered to HIV-infected children also receiving therapy with two nucleosi
de agents, and to explore relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters
and anti-HIV effect. Indinavir was initiated at a dose of 500 mg/m(2) every
8 h. Plasma indinavir concentrations were measured every 4 weeks; the dose
or dosing interval was adjusted to maintain trough concentrations of great
er than or equal to 0.1 mg/liter. All children were evaluated clinically at
baseline and every 4 weeks. Plasma HIV RNA was quantitated at baseline and
at weeks 4, 12, and 24. Eighteen children participated in this study. The
average daily dose of indinavir was 2,043 mg/m(2); nine children received i
ndinavir at 6-h intervals. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of indinavir (me
an +/- standard deviation) were the following: oral clearance, 1.4 +/- 0.5
liters/h/kg; half-life, 1.1 +/- 0.43 h; and trough concentration, 0.29 +/-
0.32 mg/liter, In nine children that completed 24 weeks of therapy, the bas
eline-to-week-24 change in HIV RNA level was related to indinavir trough co
ncentration and didanosine area under the curve. This study illustrates the
ability to obtain pharmacokinetic information from children during routine
clinic visits and to use this information to provide a safeguard against u
nderdosing. The incorporation of pharmacologic knowledge with virologic, im
munologic, and behavioral considerations should result in improved clinical
outcomes for children infected with HIV.