Pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B in the cerebrospinal fluid during continuous intrathecal administration for treatment of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B (AMB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during continuous intrathecal administration of AMB for treatment of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis (CNM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The concentration of AMB in the CSF was measured using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) in 3 patients receiving continuous intrathecal infusion of AMB for CNM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AMB concentrations in the CSF of the 3 patients exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AMB against Cryptococcus neoformans. The concentration-time curve showed that AMB concentration in the CSF underwent obvious variations on the first day of intrathecal infusion and after additional AMB doses, but maintained a stable level (0.61-1.21 µg/ml) on the next day.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>[corrected] Continuous intrathecal administration of AMB can enhance the drug concentration in the CSF and maintain a stable and effective drug level for treatment of CNM.</p>