Short Communication

Pharmacokinetics of Cetirizine in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: Multiple-Dose Study
Eisei Noiri^a,c, Hisashi Ozawa^c, Toshiro Fujita^a, Akihide Nakao^a,b

Departments of
^aNephrology and Endocrinology, and
^bHemodiafiltration, University of Tokyo, and
^cKodaira Kitaguchi Clinic, Tokyo, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron 2001;89:101-104 (DOI: 10.1159/000046050)

  Key Words

• Uremic pruritus
• Antihistamine
• Pharmacokinetics
• Multiple dosage
• Atmospheric-pressure ionization liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

  Abstract

The serum concentration-time profiles of cetirizine were measured in 8 male end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). Cetirizine (5 mg) was ingested three times a week during the predialysis period. Blood samples were drawn for basal level evaluation, before and after dialysis on 3 days per week, and before HD the following week. The serum levels of cetirizine were measured using a validated atmospheric-pressure ionization liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Basal levels of cetirizine in HD patients were confirmed to be 0 ng/ml. The predialysis levels of cetirizine on days 1, 3, 5, and 8 were (mean ± SD) 2.74 ± 7.76, 34.16 ± 21.55, 35.58 ± 13.43, and 22.47 ± 12.92 ng/ml, respectively. The postdialysis levels of cetirizine 4-5 h after ingestion were as follows (ng/ml): day 1, 103.11 ± 37.27; day 3, 131.34 ± 51.18, and day 5, 136.48 ± 48.72. Between dialysis sessions, no supplemental dosage was required to keep the therapeutic range of 14 ng/ml. In addition, the predialysis levels on day 8 were not statistically different from the basal levels. Evidence from the multiple-dose study supports the clinical use of cetirizine for ESRF patients on HD. Thus, it is concluded that a prescription of 5 mg cetirizine three times a week during the predialysis period will be the effective and safety renal dosage for ESRD patients on HD.

Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Eisei Noiri, MD, PhD
1st Department of Medicine, University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo
Tokyo 113-8655 (Japan)
Tel. +81 3 5800 8648, Fax +81 3 5814 8696, E-Mail noiri-1im@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: Accepted: October 23, 2000
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 15