Resumen

KOEGELENBERG, C F N et al. The pharmacokinetics of enteral antituberculosis drugs in patients requiring intensive care. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2013, vol.103, n.6, pp.394-398. ISSN 2078-5135.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on the pharmacokinetics of fixed-dose combination enteral antituberculosis treatment in critically ill patients. OBJECTIVES: To establish the pharmacokinetic profile of a fixed-dose combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol given according to weight via a nasogastric tube to patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study on 10 patients (mean age 32 years, 6 male) admitted to an ICU and treated for tuberculosis (TB). Serum concentrations of the drugs were determined at eight predetermined intervals over 24 hours by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The therapeutic maximum plasma concentration (C_max) for rifampicin at time to peak concentration was achieved in only 4 patients, whereas 2 did not achieve therapeutic C_max for isoniazid. No patient reached sub-therapeutic C_max for pyrazinamide (6 were within and 4 above therapeutic range). Three patients reached sub-therapeutic C_max for ethambutol, and 6 patients were within and 1 above the therapeutic range. Patients with a sub-therapeutic rifampicin level had a higher mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (p=0.03) and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A fixed-dose combination tablet, crushed and mixed with water, given according to weight via a nasogastric tube to patients with TB admitted to an ICU resulted in sub-therapeutic rifampicin plasma concentrations in the majority of patients, whereas the other drugs had a more favourable pharmacokinetic profile. Patients with a sub-therapeutic rifampicin concentration had a higher APACHE II score and a lower estimated GFR, which may contribute to suboptimal outcomes in critically ill patients. Studies in other settings have reported similar proportions of patients with 'sub-therapeutic' rifampicin concentrations.

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