Single-dose pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin during continuous veno-venous haemofiltration in critically ill patients

Abstract

The present study was performed to analyse the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin during continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) with a high-flux polyamide membrane. Twelve patients received 500 mg levofloxacin intravenously. The mean levofloxacin concentration peak was 1.9 ± 1.0 mg/L. The elimination half-life, haemofiltration clearance and total removal were 8.3 ± 2.6 h, 27.6 ± 8.4 mL/min and 56 ± 19%, respectively. Further multiple-dose studies are required to enable dosage recommendations to be made for patients receiving renal replacement therapy with CVVH.