Abstract
We investigated the pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin (FLRX), a new quinolone, after a single oral administration of FLRX 100mg tablet in five maintenance hemodialysis patients. The serum concentrations of FLRX reached a peak of 1.87μg/ml at 2.4h after the administration. The half-life in serum was 6.62h during hemodialysis, being reduced from 31.9h without hemodialysis. The dialysis clearance (69 to 74ml/min) was comparable to renal clearance in healthy subjects. Twenty-eight percent of the drug was removed from the body during a 4-hour hemodialysis session. These results suggested that in hemodialysis patients the half-life in serum was more prolonged by 3 times that in healthy subjects, and that FLRX might be moderately dialyzed. Then, the serum concentration profiles of FLRX during multiple dosing were simulated based on the single-dose pharmacokinetic parameters. We concluded that it might be appropriate to administer FLRX at a dose of 100 mg once daily in these patients.
