AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF IMPAIRED RENAL-FUNCTION AND HEMODIALYSIS ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF FLUCONAZOLE

1. The oral pharmacokinetics of fluconazole were studied in three groups of volunteers (n = 5) with various degrees of renal function (GFR greater than 70 ml min‐1; 20‐70 ml min‐1; less than 20 ml min‐1) and in a group of patients with chronic end‐stage renal failure requiring regular haemodialysis. 2. The pharmacokinetics of fluconazole were markedly affected by impaired renal function with the elimination of half‐life in Group III (GFR less than 20 ml min‐1) being approximately three times that observed in normal volunteers (Group I). 3. Fluconazole renal clearance was positively correlated with GFR. 4. Non‐renal clearance of fluconazole decreased with decreasing renal function. 5. Approximately 38% of the 50 mg dose of fluconazole was removed by haemodialysis extending over a 3 h period. 1990 The British Pharmacological Society