Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics of Caspofungin in ICU Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2018-05-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Although the pharmacokinetics of Caspofungin has been studied in healthy subjects and
patients, only a few studies have been performed in critically-ill patients. In these
patients several factors, including sepsis, shock, increased distribution volume, hepatic
dysfunction and hypoalbuminemia may result in dramatic changes in antibiotic concentrations
and pharmacokinetics. Caspofungin pharmacokinetic data is scarce and are results mainly from
case series or animal studies. Thus, studies performed so far show Caspofungin trough
concentrations either decreased, similar to usual value in non-critically ill patients or
increased. One of these studies suggested that body weight and hypoalbuminemia may be the
main factors associated with Caspofungin pharmacokinetic variability. Pharmacokinetic
parameters of caspofungin in pigs with hypovolemic shock suggested the peripheral volume of
distribution of caspofungin and intercompartmental clearance to be higher than in healthy
animals. These results are however preliminary and cannot be extrapolated suggesting further
clinical studies in human to be needed.
The primary objective of this study is to assess Caspofungin trough concentrations and
pharmacokinetics in critically-ill patients requiring vasopressors.