Pharmacokinetics of single, oral-dose voriconazole in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Voriconazole is a new triazole antifungal drug. Its pharmacokinetics and transfer to peritoneal dialysate in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have not been studied.

Methods: Five patients with end-stage renal disease requiring support by PD were administered a single dose of 200 mg of voriconazole orally. Plasma and peritoneal dialysate were collected for measurement of voriconazole concentrations at times 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours.

Results: Voriconazole was absorbed and achieved maximum concentration (Cmax) in plasma at mean time 2.4 +/- 0.7 (SE) hours. Time to Cmax in dialysate was 2.8 +/- 0.5 hours. Mean Cmax for plasma was 0.55 +/- 0.20 microg/mL, and for dialysate, approximately half that of plasma (0.25 +/- 0.09 mug/mL). The dialysate to plasma ratio of voriconazole was 0.66 +/- 0.11. Less than 1% of the administered voriconazole dose (1.3 +/- 0.2 mg) was recovered in dialysate 24 hours after dosing.

Conclusion: Voriconazole penetrates well into peritoneal fluid. There is minimal peritoneal clearance of voriconazole; therefore, no dosage adjustment is needed for patients on PD therapy.