Published in

American Society for Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 10(55), p. 4594-4600, 2011

DOI: 10.1128/aac.00379-11

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Pharmacokinetics of Ethionamide in Children

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Ethionamide (ETH), a second-line antituberculosis drug, is frequently used in treating childhood tuberculosis. Data supporting ETH dose recommendations in children are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters for ETH in children on antituberculosis treatment including ETH. ETH serum levels were prospectively assessed in 31 children in 3 age groups (0 to 2 years, 2 to 6 years, and 6 to 12 years). Within each age group, half received rifampin (RMP). Following an oral dose of ETH (15 to 20 mg/kg of body weight), blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h following 1 and 4 months of ETH therapy. The maximum serum concentration ( C max ), time to C max ( T max ), and area under the time-concentration curve from 0 to 6 h (AUC 0–6 ) were calculated. Younger children were exposed to lower ETH concentrations than older children at the same mg/kg body weight dose. Age correlated significantly with the AUC after both 1 month ( r = 0.50, P = 0.001) and 4 months ( r = 0.63, P = 0.001) of therapy. There was no difference in the AUC or C max between children receiving concomitant treatment with RMP and those who did not. Time on treatment did not influence the pharmacokinetic parameters of ETH following 1 and 4 months of therapy. HIV infection was associated with lower ETH exposure. In conclusion, ETH at an oral dose of 15 to 20 mg/kg results in sufficient serum concentrations compared to current adult recommended levels in the majority of children across all age groups. ETH levels were influenced by young age and HIV status but were not affected by concomitant RMP treatment and duration of therapy.