The effect of renal function on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin was studied in 21 subjects with measured creatinine clearances ranging from 0 (4). The literature assessing the impact of renal dysfunction on the oral absorption of drugs is relatively sparse. While it is usually assumed that drug absorption is unimpaired, furosemide (11), D-xylose (2), and pindolol (1) have been reported to have diminished bioavailability associated with renal impairment. Additionally, patients with renal failure often receive concomitant aluminum-containing antacids which are known to alter the absorption of oral ciprofloxacin. Because oral ciprofloxacin will be used to treat serious gram-negative infections, potentially in individuals with impaired renal function, we thought it necessary to determine the influence of renal function on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin.
MATERIALS AND METHODSSubject selection. Twenty-one subjects with various degrees of renal function received ciprofloxacin (200 mg i.v. and 750 mg p.o.). All subjects were participating in concurrent studies of the effects of renal function on the disposition of ciprofloxacin after oral (7) and i.v. (5) istration. Group 3 subjects were specifically instructed to omit antacid administration during this period. Each subject received both oral and i.v. ciprofloxacin, with at least 1 week elapsing between studies. One 750-mg tablet of ciprofloxacin was administered p.o. with 180 to 240 ml of tap water, and 200 mg of i.v. ciprofloxacin was administered over 10 min (group 1) or 30 min (groups 2 and 3). Group 3 subjects were studied between their dialysis periods. Ciprofloxacin was provided by Miles Pharmaceuticals.Specimen collection and handling. For the oral doses, blood was obtained before drug administration and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after administration. In patients with creatinine clearances of less than 3 liters/h per 1.73 m2, additional blood samples were obtained at 16, 36, and 48 h after drug administration. For the i.v. study in group 1 subjects, blood samples were obtained before administration and at 0.083, 0.17, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after the end of the 10-min infusion. For the i.v. study in groups 2 and 3, blood samples were obtained before administration and at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 48