Pharmacokinetics of ethambutol in children and adults with tuberculosis.

SETTING: Five hospitals in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To describe ethambutol pharmacokinetics in children and adults with active tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN: Prospective, open-labeled study in 56 adults and 14 children with active tuberculosis who received ethambutol as part of their multidrug TB regimens. RESULTS: Most serum samples were collected up to 10 h post dose and assayed using a validated gas chromatography assay with mass selective detection (GC/MS). Concentration data were analyzed using non-compartmental and population pharmacokinetic methods. Drug exposure increased with dose, but less than proportionally at doses >3000 mg. Lower than expected maximum serum concentrations (Cmax <2 microg/ml) were common in adults. Very low Cmax (<1 microg/ml) were common in children, as was delayed absorption (time to Cmax >3 h). Many Cmax were at or below typical TB minimal inhibitory concentrations. Cmax values for HIV-positive patients were 20% lower than HIV-negative patients with daily doses, but were similar with larger twice-weekly doses. CONCLUSIONS: Adult TB patients often had lower than expected ethambutol serum concentrations, and most pediatric TB patients had very low ethambutol serum concentrations. Higher doses and therapeutic drug monitoring may be indicated for many of these patients.

Population pharmacokinetics of ethionamide in patients with tuberculosis.

SETTING: Three US referral hospitals. OBJECTIVE: Determine the population pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of ethionamide (ETA) following multiple oral doses. DESIGN: Fifty-five patients with tuberculosis (TB) participated. Patients received multiple oral doses of ETA as part of their treatment. They also received other anti-tuberculosis medications based upon in vitro susceptibility data. Serum samples were collected over 12 h post-dose, and concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Concentration-time data were analyzed using population methods. RESULTS: ETA areas under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUCs) increased linearly with increasing oral doses from 250 to 1000 mg. Compared to the population pattern, delayed absorption was seen at least once in 15% of patients. ETA PK parameter estimates were independent of age, weight, height, gender, and creatinine clearance. TB patients appeared to have larger volumes of distribution (3.22 l/kg) and clearance values (1.88 l/h/kg) compared to previously studied healthy volunteers. This resulted in lower AUC values (3.95 mcg h/ml) in the TB patients. ETA displayed a short elimination half-life (1.94 h). The effect of different dosing strategies on calculated pharmacodynamic parameters was explored. Simulated doses of 250 mg BID to TID failed to achieve serum concentrations above the MIC. CONCLUSION: ETA PK parameters differed between TB patients and healthy volunteers, possibly due to differences in the completeness of absorption. Doses of at least 500 mg appear to be required to achieve serum concentrations above the typical ETA MIC. Additional research is needed to determine the optimal dosing of ETA.

Ofloxacin population pharmacokinetics in patients with tuberculosis.

SETTING: Two tuberculosis hospitals in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To determine the population pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of ofloxacin following multiple oral doses. DESIGN: A total of 73 patients with tuberculosis (TB) participated in the study. Subjects received multiple doses of ofloxacin as part of their treatment. They also received concurrent medications based on in vitro susceptibility data. Serum samples were collected over 10 h and assayed by a validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Concentration-time data were analyzed using population methods. RESULTS: Ofloxacin concentrations increased linearly with increasing oral doses. Delayed absorption was seen at least once in 29% of patients. Ofloxacin elimination decreased with declining renal function and increasing age. Higher daily doses were well tolerated, and appeared to maximize the peak concentration to minimal inhibitory concentration ratio (Cmax:MIC). CONCLUSION: Ofloxacin PK parameters were comparable to those previously published for other patient populations. Higher daily doses may offer pharmacodynamic advantages for the treatment of TB.

Use of rifabutin with protease inhibitors for human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with tuberculosis.

Drug interactions between rifamycins and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have raised concerns in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with tuberculosis. We conducted a study of this interaction by measuring serum drug levels of all HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis who were admitted to A. G. Holley State Tuberculosis Hospital (Florida) from October 1997 through December 1998, who were concomitantly treated with rifabutin and HAART. All 25 patients studied became culture-negative within 2 months of initiation of therapy for tuberculosis and remained negative for a median of 13 months follow-up after completion of therapy. HIV viral loads (mean+/-SEM) decreased significantly from 4.95+/-0.21 log10 copies/mL before initiation of HAART to 2.77+/-0.07 log10 copies/mL before discharge (P<.001); 20 of 25 patients achieved viral loads of <500copies/mL. In summary, the concomitant use of rifabutin and HAART can lead to successful treatment of HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis without increased side effects.