Abstract
Aim—To investigate the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and dose–response relation of a single rectal dose of paracetamol in preterm infants in–wo different age groups.
Methods—Preterm infants stratified by gestational age groups 28–32 weeks (group 1) and 32–36 weeks (group 2) undergoing painful procedures were included in this study. Pain was assessed using a modified facies pain score.
Results—Twenty one infants in group 1 and seven in group 2 were given a single rectal dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. Therapeutic concentrations were reached in 16/21 and 1/7 infants in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Peak serum concentrations were significantly higher in group 1. Median time to reach peak concentrations was similar in the two groups. As serum concentration was still in the therapeutic range for some infants in group 1, elimination half life (T½) could not be determined in all infants: T½ was 11.0 ± 5.7 in 11 infants in group 1 and 4.8 ± 1.2 hours in group 2. Urinary excretion was mainly as paracetamol sulphate. The glucuronide:sulphate ratio was 0.12 ± 0.09 (group 1) and 0.28 ± 0.35 (group 2). The pain score did not correlate with therapeutic concentrations.
Methods—Preterm infants stratified by gestational age groups 28–32 weeks (group 1) and 32–36 weeks (group 2) undergoing painful procedures were included in this study. Pain was assessed using a modified facies pain score.
Results—Twenty one infants in group 1 and seven in group 2 were given a single rectal dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. Therapeutic concentrations were reached in 16/21 and 1/7 infants in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Peak serum concentrations were significantly higher in group 1. Median time to reach peak concentrations was similar in the two groups. As serum concentration was still in the therapeutic range for some infants in group 1, elimination half life (T½) could not be determined in all infants: T½ was 11.0 ± 5.7 in 11 infants in group 1 and 4.8 ± 1.2 hours in group 2. Urinary excretion was mainly as paracetamol sulphate. The glucuronide:sulphate ratio was 0.12 ± 0.09 (group 1) and 0.28 ± 0.35 (group 2). The pain score did not correlate with therapeutic concentrations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 59-63 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Archives of Disease in Childhood |
| Volume | 80 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Bibliographical note
Presented in part at the annual meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Research, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 3–6 1994© Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Research programs
- EMC MGC-02-53-01-A