PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFOTIAM IN THE EXUDATE FROM WOUNDS OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER OPERATED UPON FOR RADICAL MASTECTOMY

Abstract

Cefotiam (CTM) levels in the exudate from wounds of patients with breast cancer who were operated upon for radical mastectomy were analyzed with a modified three-compartment model for a number of days after the operation. A considerable change was observed between the mean pharmacokinetic profiles in the exudate during the first 3 days after the operation and those during the next 3 days. During the first 3 days, the peak concentrations (C_max) and times of the peak concentrations (T_max) calculated from the profiles ranged from 36.2 to 41.5μg/ml and 1.15 to 1.17 hours after the administration, respectively. Thereafter they were in the range of 21.0 to 27.6μg/ml and 1.73 to 1.97 hours, respectively. The low C_max and slow Tmas values of the profiles from 4 to 6 days after the operation were attributed to a decrease of the transfer rate constant from the exudate to blood. On the other hand, the apparent transfer ratios (F₂) of CTM from blood to the exudate were approximately constant for the 6 days. The mean value of individual elimination half-lives in the exudate during 4-6 days was statistically longer than that during the first 3 days. It was clear that the transfer of CTM from blood to the exudate from wounds of patients with breast cancer who were operated upon for radical mastectomy is fairly good judging from the large values of 1.02 to 1.42 for F₂.