acyclovir and Renal-Insufficiency

Acyclovir and valacyclovir are commonly used antivirals with good general tolerance. Despite their good safety profile, they can cause systemic adverse effects, such as neurotoxicity, which are less frequent and known. The objective of this review was to collect all the reported cases of neurotoxicity associated with acyclovir and valaciclovir published in the literature and characterize their clinical course and interventions.. A systematic review of cases was carried out following the guidelines established by "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA). The research was carried out using the PubMed-Medline and Embase databases, between July 1984 and March 2021.. A total of 119 cases with neurotoxicity mainly related to acyclovir (n = 88; 73.9%), followed by valaciclovir (n = 35; 29.4%) were analysed. 49.6% (n = 59) were men with a mean age of 59.5 years ± 21.1 (0.5-88). In 83.3% of the cases, renal impairment was documented and 57.1% (n = 68) with end-stage renal disease. The administered dose was higher than the renal adjustment recommendations in 59.7% of the cases. The global mean of onset of symptoms was 3.1 days ± 4.3 (0.2-28) after the start of antivirals. The mean recovery time was 9.8 days ± 21.7 (0.2-180). 74.4% of the patients had a recovery of ≤7 days, 15.9% between 8 and 15 days and 9.8% > 15 days.. The neurotoxicity induced by acyclovir and its derivative valacyclovir is a poorly known and rare adverse effect that can occur mainly in patients with advanced age and impaired renal function. The most characteristic symptoms are confusion, altered level of consciousness, hallucinations, agitation and dysarthria. The basis of treatment is the discontinuation of the antiviral, and in some cases, it may require additional clearance by dialysis.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Renal Insufficiency; Time Factors; Valacyclovir; Young Adult

With increasing use of acyclovir and ganciclovir, primarily due to the increased number of AIDS and transplant patients, further cases of neurologic toxicity will undoubtedly be encountered. Discontinuation or dosage reduction of acyclovir and ganciclovir is necessary to manage neurologic toxicity that is directly attributed to either agent. Renal dysfunction is a known risk factor for acyclovir neurotoxicity, and case reports indicate that renal dysfunction may also be a risk factor for ganciclovir neurotoxicity. Since ganciclovir is structurally related to acyclovir, clinicians should monitor for signs and symptoms of neurotoxicity as they would with acyclovir until the risk factors are more clearly defined. Dosage reduction for both agents and increased monitoring should occur when renal dysfunction is present, to minimize the risk of neurotoxicity and other serious adverse effects. Tables 1 and 2 summarize the recommended dosages of acyclovir and ganciclovir, respectively, in the presence of renal dysfunction. However, as a few case reports describe, neurotoxicity from these agents has also occurred in patients with normal renal function. Therefore, clinicians should always remain vigilant in monitoring for signs of neurotoxicity when acyclovir or ganciclovir is administered, and have a high index of suspicion for these agents if neurotoxicity is encountered during therapy.

Topics: Acyclovir; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antiviral Agents; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Ganciclovir; Herpes Simplex; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Renal Insufficiency; Risk Factors

Oral ganciclovir and valacyclovir reduce the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after renal transplantation (RTx). Our study was designed to compare the efficacy, costs, and safety of oral ganciclovir and valacyclovir in the prophylaxis of CMV disease over the first 6 months after RTx. A total of 38 patients was randomized to 3-month treatment with either oral ganciclovir (1 g t.i.d., n=14, GAN group) or oral valacyclovir (2 g q.i.d., n=12, VAL group). A third group (C, n=12) received no prophylaxis. The patients were monitored by CMV-nested PCR in whole blood. No differences were found between the groups in their demographic characteristics, immunosuppressive protocols, or donor and recipient CMV serology. Thirty-six out of 38 (94.7%) recipients were CMV-seropositive. Over the 6-month post-RTx period, there were 13 episodes of CMV disease in eight (66.7%) patients of the C group compared with none in the GAN and VAL groups ( P=0.0005, GAN vs C; P=0.001, VAL vs C). The incidence of CMV viremia was 30.8%, 50.0%, and 91.7% in the GAN, VAL, and C groups, respectively ( P=0.004, GAN vs C; P=0.07, VAL vs C; P=NS, GAN vs VAL). Treatment failure (death, graft loss, CMV disease, or withdrawal from study) occurred in 14.3%, 0% and 66.7% in the GAN, VAL, and C groups, respectively ( P=0.014, GAN vs C; P=0.001, VAL vs C; P=NS, GAN vs VAL). The average CMV-associated costs per patient (in 2001 euros) were 2,449+/-1,178, 2,485+/-581, and 4,259+/-4,616 in the GAN, VAL, and C groups, respectively. Ganciclovir and valacyclovir were well tolerated, with ganciclovir having had to be withdrawn shortly in one patient only because of thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, oral ganciclovir and valacyclovir are equally safe and effective in the prophylaxis of CMV disease after RTx. Both are cost-effective and help reduce CMV-associated costs by some 40% compared with patients without prophylaxis.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Adult; Antiviral Agents; Cadaver; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Ganciclovir; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Transplantation; Living Donors; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Renal Insufficiency; Tissue Donors; Valacyclovir; Valine

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Antiviral Agents; Chickenpox; Female; Humans; India; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Renal Insufficiency; Risk Factors

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Dyspnea; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hemolysis; Humans; Jaundice; Male; Methylene Blue; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Renal Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Intravenous; Antiviral Agents; Chorioretinitis; Chromatography, Liquid; Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster; Female; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Middle Aged; Obesity, Morbid; Plasma; Renal Insufficiency

A 79-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia presented with fever and a widespread vesicular rash on 19 November 2014. The patient had not been under immunosuppressive regime for 6 months. He had received a shingles vaccine on 14th October and developed flu-like symptoms after 2 weeks. Intravenous antimicrobial therapy including aciclovir was started. He remained stable with no evidence of systemic involvement. On day 5, he developed respiratory and renal failure that required transfer to intensive care unit. Vesicle fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage and plasma were positive for varicella zoster virus by PCR. Slight clinical improvement allowed extubation on day 16. He subsequently deteriorated and died on day 25. Multiorgan failure was considered the immediate cause of death whereas disseminated varicella zoster infection was stated in the medical certificate as the other condition leading to this outcome. Varicella zoster Oka vaccine strain was detected in vesicle fluid, using PCR.

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Fatal Outcome; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Male; Renal Insufficiency; Respiratory Insufficiency

Disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in neonates represents a devastating entity that yields high mortality. Acyclovir is the primary antiviral agent used to treat life-threatening HSV infections in neonates; however, even though the agent has reduced morbidity overall from these infections, mortality with disseminated disease remains high. Currently, to our knowledge, no data exist regarding therapeutic drug monitoring of acyclovir in the setting of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) coupled with ECLS. We describe the case of a 14-day-old female with disseminated HSV-1 infection that progressed to fulminant hepatic and renal failure, necessitating the use of ECLS for hemodynamic support and CRRT as a treatment modality for hepatic and renal failure. The standard dosage of acyclovir 20 mg/kg/dose intravenously every 8 hours had been initiated, but after conversion to ECLS and CRRT, the patient's dosage was increased to 30 mg/kg/dose every 8 hours. After a repeat viral load remained unchanged from the initial viral load at 1 × 10(8)  copies/ml, the patient was transitioned from intermittent dosing to a continuous infusion of acyclovir added to the dialysate solution for CRRT at a concentration of 5.5 mg/L. To provide an optimal outcome, dosing was designed to maintain acyclovir plasma concentrations of at least 3 mg/L in order to maintain an acyclovir concentration of at least 1 mg/L in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient's acyclovir serum concentrations measured at 24 and 72 hours after starting continuous-infusion acyclovir via the dialysate were 8.8 and 5.3 mg/L, respectively, allowing for a continuous serum concentration above 3 mg/L. Unfortunately, before a repeat viral load could be obtained to assess the efficacy of the continuous infusion acyclovir, the patient experienced an intracerebral hemorrhage as a complication related to ECLS after which technological support was withdrawn. This is the first report to describe the pharmacokinetics of continuous-infusion acyclovir in a neonate receiving ECLS with concurrent CRRT. These data suggest that adding acyclovir to the dialysate fluid during CRRT is effective in achieving therapeutic drug concentrations despite the complications of adding ECLS and CRRT circuits to a small patient.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Drug Monitoring; Extracorporeal Circulation; Female; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Liver Failure, Acute; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Renal Insufficiency; Renal Replacement Therapy

To report a case of Acute Retinal Necrosis (ARN)-developed nephrotoxicity during intravenous acyclovir treatment and toxic hepatitis during oral valacyclovir treatment.. Interventional case report.. Retrospective chart review.. A 45-year-old male with ARN treated with intravenous acyclovir developed nephrotoxicity. After switching to oral valacyclovir, toxic hepatitis developed. Both renal and liver function tests returned to normal levels after drug cessation. Although rare, clinicians should be aware of the potential nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic side effects of antiviral therapy during ARN treatment.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; DNA, Viral; Eye Infections, Viral; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Renal Insufficiency; Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute; Valacyclovir; Valine

Intravenous acyclovir is the treatment of choice for herpes simplex virus encephalitis. In 2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its dosing recommendations for children aged 3 months to 12 years to receive high-dose acyclovir (60 mg/kg/day). The association between acyclovir dose and toxicity is unclear.. The purpose of our study was to review our institution's experience with standard- and high-dose acyclovir for the empiric treatment of encephalitis.. This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 1 month to 18 years who received acyclovir as empiric treatment for encephalitis between 2005 and 2009 at a tertiary care children's hospital. We excluded patients with baseline renal impairment and those without serum creatinine measurements prior to and during treatment.. The main outcome measure of this study was to compare the occurrence of renal injury or failure between children who received the standard- versus high-dose regimen.. Sixty-one patients were included (n = 32 standard-dose; n = 29 high-dose). There was no statistical difference in change in serum creatinine from baseline between children who received standard- versus high-dose acyclovir (0 vs. 5.1 %; p = 0.79). One child in the standard-dose group and three children in the high-dose group developed renal injury or failure during treatment (3.1 vs. 10.3 %; p = 0.34). Children with renal injury or failure were older, had a longer length of stay, and longer duration of therapy than children without.. The incidence of renal injury or failure was similar between children who received standard-dose and high-dose acyclovir.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Antiviral Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalitis, Viral; Female; Herpes Simplex; Hospitals, Pediatric; Humans; Infant; Male; Renal Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tertiary Care Centers

Many children receiving a kidney transplant are seronegative for CMV and therefore, highly susceptible to a primary CMV infection. This study aims at evaluating incidence, time of occurrence, and severity of CMV infection in the first year post-transplantation in relation to different types of CMV prophylaxis. Transplantations in three centers in the Netherlands between 1999 and 2010 were included. Retrospective, observational, multicenter study. Clinical data and PCR measurements of CMV were collected. Prophylaxis in high-risk patients (CMV serostatus D+R-) consisted of (val)ganciclovir during three months, or acyclovir plus CMV immunoglobulin at a former stage. Intermediate-risk patients (R+) received (val)acyclovir, or acyclovir plus CMV immunoglobulin at a former stage. Low-risk patients (D-R-) did not receive prophylaxis. Infection was defined as CMV PCR above 50 geq/mL plasma or whole blood, a clinically relevant infection above 1000 geq/mL. One hundred and fifty-nine transplantations were included. CMV infection was documented for 41% of high-risk, 24% of intermediate-risk, and 13% of low-risk patients, in the latter two groups typically during the first three months. The infection rate was highest in the high-risk group after cessation of valganciclovir prophylaxis. Valganciclovir provided better protection than did acyclovir + CMV immunoglobulin. Adding an IL2-receptor blocker to the immunosuppressive regimen did not affect the infection rate. Acute graft rejection was not related with CMV infection. Valganciclovir prophylaxis effectively prevents CMV infection in high-risk pediatric kidney recipients, but only during prophylaxis. Valacyclovir prophylaxis in intermediate-risk patients is less effective.

Topics: Acyclovir; Adolescent; Antiviral Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Disease-Free Survival; Ganciclovir; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infant; Kidney Transplantation; Netherlands; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Renal Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies; Risk; Valacyclovir; Valganciclovir; Valine

We report a case of a potential drug-drug interaction in a woman treated by a first injection of high-dose methotrexate for a T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Valaciclovir, fluoxetine and pantoprazole were given concomitantly. A methotrexate overdosage was shown at 36 h after infusion associated with a severe renal failure. Alkaline hyperhydration, folinic acid and carboxypeptidase G2 were given. Prescription analyses by pharmacists and literature research have permitted us to suggest that a drug-drug interaction between methotrexate and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) was responsible for this renal failure. Several mechanisms of interaction were suggested and might be related to the inhibition of renal methotrexate transporters by PPI, an increase in the methotrexate efflux to the blood by an upregulation of multidrug resistance protein 3 by PPI or genetic polymorphisms. This case shows that pharmacists can help physicians to optimize patient treatment: they consensually decided on the systematic discontinuation of PPI or a switch to ranitidine when patients were treated by high-dose methotrexate.

Topics: 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; Acyclovir; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antiviral Agents; Drug Interactions; Female; Fluoxetine; Humans; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Pantoprazole; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Renal Insufficiency; Valacyclovir; Valine

Retrospective analysis of two recent multiple myeloma (MM) clinical trials suggested that the use of bortezomib may be associated with an increased incidence of herpes zoster infections. Therefore, prophylactic use of antivirals has been advocated by some authors. This article explores the potential risks and pitfalls linked to routine acyclovir prophylaxis in bortezomib-treated MM.. use of antivirals can be associated with important nephro- and neurotoxicity. The nephrotoxicity induced by MM itself and its supportive therapies, superimposed to aging and inherent immunosuppression in myeloma, makes the development of renal impairment even more likely. On the other hand, sensory neuropathy is known to occur both during myeloma progression and in the setting of bortezomib therapy. Furthermore, preexisting nephropathy in MM patients can contribute to the occurrence of serious neurologic toxicity with acyclovir.. long-term acyclovir prophylaxis in MM patients treated with bortezomib may cause severe renal and neurological toxicity. Prevention of these complications can be achieved through either withholding of the antivirals or a very close monitoring of both neurologic status and renal function in this patient population. This highlights the importance of both clinician's and pharmacist's involvement in optimization of myeloma patient care.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiviral Agents; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Drug Monitoring; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Incidence; Multiple Myeloma; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Pyrazines; Renal Insufficiency; Virus Activation

A case of acyclovir-induced acute renal failure in an obese patient is described.. A 60-year-old white man arrived at the emergency department complaining of confusion and disorientation. He was 5 ft 7 in tall and weighed 108.9 kg. His medical and surgical histories included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea not requiring biphasic positive airway pressure, obesity, oxygen supplementation, and appendectomy. He also had a history of cyst drainage on the back of his neck, with recent drainage emitting a foul odor, and suffered recurrent herpes cold sores on his chin. A lumbar puncture revealed abnormal cerebral spinal fluid. A diagnosis of herpes encephalitis was considered, and the patient was empirically treated with i.v. acyclovir 1 g over 60 minutes every eight hours, with the dosage based on actual body weight. He was also given moxifloxacin 400 mg i.v. daily for possible COPD exacerbation and doxycycline 100 mg i.v. twice daily for possible leptospirosis meningitis. On hospital day 3, his serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations rose to 2.8 g/dL and 32 mg/dL, respectively. Acyclovir was subsequently discontinued, as were all i.v. antibiotics. On day 7, hydration therapy was initiated, as was therapy to alkalinize the urine, and his neurologic status began to improve. At discharge, the patient's SCr and BUN levels were 3.1 g/dL and 38 mg/dL, respectively. His discharge diagnoses included encephalitis with possible viral origin and acyclovir-induced nephrotoxicity.. An obese man receiving excessive doses of i.v. acyclovir developed acute but reversible renal failure.

Topics: Acyclovir; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Renal Insufficiency

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Central Nervous System; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Renal Insufficiency; Risk Factors

Aciclovir is the drug of choice for severe systemic herpes virus infections. Nephrotoxicity is one of the clinically significant adverse effects of this drug, but studies examining nephrotoxicity in children are scarce.. To identify risk factors for aciclovir-associated nephrotoxicity in the pediatric population.. A retrospective review was conducted on all children (mean age 81 months; n = 126 [74 boys]) who were treated with aciclovir in a tertiary center between July 2005 and January 2006 and who met our inclusion criteria. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated on the first day of treatment and at the peak measured creatinine level while on therapy, using Schwartz's method.. Aciclovir therapy was associated with a significant increase in serum creatinine levels and a parallel decrease in GFR (n = 93; both p

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Creatinine; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Humans; Infant; Kidney; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Renal Insufficiency; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors

Oral acylovir treatment rarely results in renal dysfunction. In reported cases concerning renal failure due to oral acyclovir, baseline creatinine levels were unknown or impaired or a predisposing factor for nephrotoxicity was present. We report a 78-y-old female with documented normal baseline renal function and no contributing possible nephrotoxic factor, who developed irreversible renal dysfunction after oral acyclovir treatment. We suggest that in geriatric age groups chronic renal insufficiency should be taken into consideration during oral acyclovir therapy.

Topics: Acyclovir; Administration, Oral; Aged; Female; Geriatrics; Humans; Renal Insufficiency

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Emergency Medical Services; Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster; Female; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; Brain Diseases, Metabolic; Diabetes Complications; Diagnosis, Differential; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Myoclonus; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency; Valacyclovir; Valine

Adverse neurological and renal effects can occur in patients taking acyclovir. Neurotoxicity of acyclovir results from an accumulation of the antiviral and its metabolites in the bloodstream. This can be observed in the elderly or in patients with chronic renal failure, generally in dialysis patients. Acute renal failure results from intratubular crystallization of acyclovir.. A 78-year-old right-handed woman was admitted in an emergency setting for aphasia. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid was normal, but herpetic meningo-encephalitis was suspected and intravenous treatment was initiated with acyclovir. After the second infusion, the patient began to suffer from visual hallucinations, confusion and acute renal failure. Herpes PCR was negative in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the adverse drug reactions regressed completely after 72 hours.. Renal function has to be checked often in patients given acyclovir for appropriate dose titration. Patients recover prompt from the adverse effects at drug withdrawal.

Topics: Acute Disease; Acyclovir; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex; Female; Humans; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Renal Insufficiency

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guanine; Humans; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Renal Insufficiency; Valacyclovir; Valine

We report three cases of neurotoxicity in patients with renal failure, treated with Zelitrex (valacyclovir).. The patients are two women and a man, aged 76 +/- 4.6 years, who presented acute mental confusion during a treatment with valacyclovir. In two cases, the patients previously had altered renal function and were under peritoneal dialysis. In the last case, the patient had simultaneous neurotoxicity and acute renal failure. After the discontinuation of the drug, the outcome was favourable in all cases.. Our cases focus attention on the possible neurotoxicity of valacyclovir, which is an amino acid ester prodrug of acyclovir, rapidly and almost completely hydrolysed to acyclovir prior to systemic exposure. The bioavailability of valacyclovir is 54% compared to approximately 20% for oral acyclovir and may account for unexpected overdoses, which may lead to serious neurological toxicity.

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological Availability; Drug Overdose; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Prodrugs; Renal Insufficiency; Valacyclovir; Valine

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; Coma; Female; Humans; Male; Renal Insufficiency

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with isocratic elution is developed for the simultaneous quantification of valaciclovir (VACV) prodrug and its active converted compound, acyclovir (ACV), in biological fluids of treated patients. For serum, the samples are deproteinized with perchloric acid in presence of 1-methylguanosine as the internal standard (IS). For urine and dialysis liquid, the samples are diluted with a mobile phase containing the IS, then filtered. VACV, ACV and the IS are separated on a SymmetryShield RP-8 column with acetonitrile-ammonium phosphate buffer as the mobile phase and detected at 254 nm. The chromatographic time is about 12 min. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of VACV and ACV standards are between 0.5 and 3.5%. Most endogenous nucleosides and their metabolites, psychotropic drugs and drugs of abuse are shown not to interfere with this technique. The method has been applied to study the pharmacokinetics of VACV and ACV in serum, dialysis liquid and urine of renal failure patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) under oral treatment of VACV.

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Body Fluids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Renal Insufficiency; Reproducibility of Results; Valacyclovir; Valine

The use of intravenous acyclovir can be particularly complicated in pediatric patients with evolving renal impairment, because of intraindividual pharmacokinetic variability linked to the patient's clinical condition. The objective of this study was to use therapeutic drug monitoring data to assess acyclovir intraindividual pharmacokinetic variability during several types of renal replacement therapy. Bayesian adaptive control of acyclovir dosage regimen was performed in a pediatric patient with bone marrow transplant who developed severe renal impairment. Acyclovir pharmacokinetic parameter values corresponding to the different techniques and periods of renal replacement therapy were estimated using USCPACK PC Clinical Programs and therapeutic drug monitoring data. Results showed a wide intraindividual pharmacokinetic variability during CAVH, CAVHDF, and CVVHD, reflecting not only the performance of each dialysis technique but also the difficulty in making use of each one. The acyclovir elimination rate constant was higher during CVVHD compared to CAVH or CAVHDF. Bayesian method appears to be valuable in assessing intraindividual pharmacokinetic variability, as it allows the clinician to deal with sparse routine patient data.

Topics: Acyclovir; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Child, Preschool; Drug Monitoring; Female; Hemodiafiltration; Hemofiltration; Humans; Pharmacogenetics; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency; Renal Replacement Therapy; Time Factors

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Brain Diseases; Female; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Renal Insufficiency

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Antiviral Agents; Humans; Male; Renal Insufficiency