Pediatria pre prax 5/2016

Differences in pharmacokinetics in children

Human growth and development consists of a continuum of biologic events. The impact of these developmental changes in drug disposition is largely related to changes in body composition (e.g. body water content, plasma protein concentrations) and function of organs important in metabolism (e.g. the liver) and excretion (e.g. the kidney). During the first decade of life, these changes are dynamic and can be nonlinear and discordant making standardized dosing inadequate. During rapid phases of growth/development drug disposition and response may be altered. The main goal is to optimize drug therapy in children. This can be achieved through fundamental understanding of how ontogeny influences pharmacokinetics.

Keywords: children, pharmacokinetics, absorption, distribution, excretion