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Introduction
Burn victims are a special group of patients who need immediate care and treatment.
The pathophysiological changes and complications such as sepsis that burn patients go
through significantly alter the pharmacokinetic parameters.
Recommendations are done for proper dosing & administering the proper drug at the
proper time to avoid serious consequences as acute renal failure.
The aim of this paper is to provide a brief review on the pathophysiological changes and
their effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of the most drugs that are used in this
situation.
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CLINICAL PHARMACOKINETICS IN BURN PATIENTS
acute renal failure have been described destroy the gut mucosal barrier and
in burned patients, differing in terms of result in bacterial translocation.
their time of onset. The first occurs Intestinal and colonic motility in the rat
during the first few days after the injury were decreased following burn injury
and is related to hypovolemia with low accompanied by a delay in gastric
cardiac output and systemic emptying.
vasoconstriction which damages the Liver blood flow is significantly
tubular cells. increased during the hypermetabolic
Elevated levels of stress hormones like phase.
catecholamines, angiotensin, aldosterone Hepatic metabolism is also affected:
and vasopressin have been reported to there is an acute depression in
be implicated in the pathogenesis of this microsomal activity (phase I), but
form of ARF. conjugative metabolic activity (phase II)
The other form of ARF develops later is unaffected and may possibly increase.
and has a more complex pathogenesis. Other liver functions, such as protein
This form has been reported to be synthesis, are also impaired.
related to sepsis and multiorgan failure The changes associated with the
and is most often fatal. hypermetabolic phase evolve over
In addition to these mechanisms that several days, and their intensity will vary
support the pathogenesis, the kidney with time.
damage induced by burn injury is Burn injury also causes hepatic damage
dependent upon the formation of and considerable changes in plasma
oxygen radicals, as evidenced by protein levels. In general, patients exhibit
increased lipid and protein oxidation decreased albumin and increased -acid
with a concomitant decrease in renal glycoprotein levels¹.
antioxidant (glutathione) levels.
Percutaneous Absorption:
Gastrointestinal Response Percutaneous absorption, the process of
Gastric dilation, delay in gastric diffusive penetration through the skin,
emptying, with a decrease of mesenteric may be substantially increased through
blood flow are among the effects of burned tissue .Normally; a drug must
thermal injury on the gastrointestinal diffuse into the stratum corneum and
system. pilosebaceous gland ducts. Further
The stomach has been found to secrete movement transcending the epidermal
excess protons which will eventually stratais required before the drug
lead to ulcers in the majority of patients. becomes available to the systemic
In the small intestine decreased nutrient circulation. Burn injury can destroy
(glucose, calcium and amino acids) these normal barriers. And depending
absorption and DNA synthesis occurs on the degree of burn and surface area
and enhanced intestinal permeability has involved, the systemic absorption of
been observed. Intestinal ischemia topical medications may be clinically
resulting from decreased splanchnic significantly enhanced if the local
blood flow may activate the neutrophils vasculature remains intact
8
.
and tissue-bound enzymes such as
xanthine oxidase and these factors
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Cardiovascular system Renal system Gastrointestinal system
Table 1 Systemic Response to Burn Injury 1 amounts of free fraction will be available
at the biophase. On the other hand,
Pharmacokinetics Parameters alpha 1-acid glycoprotein increases in
Alteration concentration and remains elevated at
least 20 days post-burn. Basic drugs
Studying the pathological changes in exhibit increased protein binding and
burn patients leads to a better will most probably need an increased
understanding of the potential dosage to achieve the appropriate
alteration in the pharmacokinetic pharmacological effect 6.
parameters such as bioavailability, Volume of distribution (Vd): may
protein binding, volume of distribution change as a consequence of altered
(Vd) and clearance. protein binding or an enlarged
The extent of these alterations depends extracellular fluid volume 4.
on the drug, the type and extent of Clearance: Alterations in clearance may
injury and the time that elapsed between be due to changes in glomerular
injury and drug administration. filtration, tubular secretion, hepatic
blood flow, drug-metabolizing activity,
Bioavailability: bioavailability of large protein binding and to the presence of
and hydrophilic molecules may be additional elimination pathways
increased because of enhanced intestinal depending which phase the patient is
permeability; Hyperchlorhydria may 4
affect the dissolution and disintegration in .
of orally administered drugs in tablet Elimination half-life: changes when
form, as well as the partitioning of the Vd and/or clearance are affected
following burn injury.
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CLINICAL PHARMACOKINETICS IN BURN PATIENTS
cream, but silver ions appear to be 4. Jaehde, U. & Sorgel, F). Clinical
localized on surface tissue and are thus Pharmacokinetics inPatients with Burns. Clinical
Pharmacokinetics, 1995,29, 15–28
unavailable to the subeschar space . 5. Lesne-Hulin A, Bourget P, Carsin H,
Lidocaine absorption from the jelly Pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in burn patients,
form in patients with thermal injury Therapie, 1995 50(6):575-86
showed a high degree of absorption so 6. Bonate PL. Pathophysiology and
caution should be taken when using the Pharmacokinetics following Burn Injury, Clin
Pharmacokinet, 199018(2):118-30
jelly form. 7. Sawchuk RJ, Rector TS. Drug kinetics in burn
patients. Clin Pharmacokinet., 1980.
Summary (6):548-56.
8. Ronald J Sawchuk .Drug Absorption and
Disposition in Burn Patients. Leslie Z .Benet,
The pathopysiology associated with Neil Massoud, John G. Gambertoglio. eds
thermal injury is complex leading to .Pharmacokinetics Basis for Drug Treatment.
changes in the pharmacokinetics 333-348.
behavior of drugs. These
9. Dailly E; Pannier M; Jolliet P; Bourin N
pharmacokinetics alteration require M.Population Pharmacokinetics Cefatizidime in
therapeutic drug monitoring and dosage Burn Patients. BR J CLIN PHARMACOL, 2003
adjustment to ensure rational and well 56, 6, 629-634.
tolerated drug therapy in patients with
burns. Individualization is warranted to 10. Boureget P; Lesine-Hulin A; LE Reveille R;
avoid subtherapeutic drug concentration Le Bever H; Carsin H. Clinical Pharmacokinetics
of Pipracillin-Tazobactam Combination in
levels. patients with Major `Burns and Signs of
infection AntiMicrob AGTS Chemotherap, 1996
Burns patients with a normal or elevated . l 40, 1, p 139-145.
creatinine clearance should be given at
least the maximum recommended dose. 11. Garrelts, J. C., Jost, G., Kowalsky, S. F.,
Future studies should focus on the Krol, G. J. & Lettieri, J. T. (1996). Ciprofloxacin
Pharmacokinetics in burn patients. Antimicrobial
impact of specific patient variables such Agents and Chemotherapy 40, 1153–6.
as conducting the study either in the
acute or the hypermetabolic phase, 12. Steer J A; Papini R P G; Wilson A P R;
ensuring that enough patients with high Dillon S; et al, Pharmacokinetics of single dose
creatinine clearance are included and of Teicoplnin in Burn Patients. ANTIMICROB
separating children from adults, need to CHEMOTHER, 1996, 37, 3, p 545-553.
be predefined, as their influence on
studies may be critical and on the extent
of pharmacokinetic alterations.
References:
1. BarÝß .AKIR, Berrak YEÚEN,
Systemic Responses to Burn Injury, Turk J
Med Sci, 2004, 34, 215-226
2. M.J.Weinbren, Pharmacokinetic of Antibiotics
in Burn Patients, journal of Antimicrobial
Chemotherapy 1999, 44,319-327.
3.Bradley A. Boucher, Stephen R. King,2 Heidi
L. Wandschneider et al,Fluconazole
Pharmacokinetics in Burn Patients,
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy,
1998,42, 930-9334.
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