Gentamicin Dosages for Renal Insufficiency

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-74-2-192

Gentamicin Dosages for Renal Insufficiency

Adjustments Based on Endogenous Creatinine Clearance and Serum Creatinine Concentration

Cleveland, Ohio; and Ann Arbor, Michigan

Abstract

The percent hourly loss and serum half-life (T½) of gentamicin were determined after an intramuscular dose of from 0.8 to 1.5 mg/kg body weight in each of 18 patients with various degrees of impaired renal function and in 6 patients with normal renal function. There was a linear relationship between the loss of gentamicin and the endogenous creatinine clearance (C_Cr). The percent hourly loss could be estimated by dividing the value of the C_Cr (ml/min/1.73 m² body surface area) by four. There was a curvilinear relationship between the serum creatinine concentration and the T½ of gentamicin. The nature of the curve was such that for clinical purposes the T½ of gentamicin could be estimated by multiplying the value of the serum creatinine (mg/100 ml) by four. These data provide a possible basis for individualized adjustment of dosage of gentamicin for patients with impaired renal function.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases; the Department of Microbiology; the Department of Hypertension and Renal Disease; and the Department of Otolaryngology; The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio; and the College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Supported in part by a grant from the Schering Corp., Bloomfield N. J.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Martin C. McHenry, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Received June 6, 1970.
- Accepted October 20, 1970.