Book Review

Paediatric Forensic Medicine and Pathology Edited by J. K. Mason London: Chapman and Hall Medical [Published in United States by Van Nostrand Reinhold9.95. New York], 1989, xii + 516 pp, $13     

Acute renal and hepatic toxicity of 2-haloanilines in Fischer 344 rats.

Aniline and its halogenated derivatives are widely used as chemical intermediates. The purpose of this study was to determine the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic potential of the 2-haloanilines. Male Fischer 344 rats (n > or = 4) were injected (i.p.) with 1.0 or 1.25 mmol/kg of: aniline (A), 2-fluoroaniline (2-FA), 2-chloroaniline (2-ClA), 2-bromoaniline (2-BrA), 2-iodoaniline (2-IA) or vehicle (0.9% saline, 2.5 ml/kg). All compounds were injected as hydrochloride salts. Renal and hepatic function was monitored 24 h after treatment. All of the 2-haloanilines induced oliguria, diminished kidney weight, tubular casts and decreased renal cortical slice accumulation of organic anions. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were increased (P < 0.05) by treatment with 1.0 or 1.25 mmol/kg of 2-FA, 2-ClA or 2-BrA. Hepatic alterations were also observed and characterized by elevated plasma ALT/GPT activity and altered morphology in the centrilobular region. The nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials were similar among the 2-haloanilines but aniline was less toxic than its 2-halo derivatives. These results demonstrated that halogen substitution at the 2-position of aniline increased hepatic and renal toxicity. However, the severity of toxicity was not influenced by the nature of the halogen substituent.     

Cefotaxime and metabolite disposition in two pediatric continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in pediatric patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) after intraperitoneal administration of cefotaxime. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Ambulatory children from Children's Hospital nephrology clinic, Columbus, Ohio. PATIENT POPULATION: Two adolescents without peritonitis. METHODS: A single intraperitoneal dose of cefotaxime 500 mg per 1 L dianeal was given during CAPD. Cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime were measured in plasma, urine, and dialysate by HPLC. RESULTS: Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of cefotaxime was 11.94 and 13.08 mg/L and that of desacetylcefotaxime 5.73 and 5.33 mg/L. Time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax) of cefotaxime was 2.22 and 4.08 h, and that of desacetylcefotaxime was 5.33 and 5.73 h after instillation of the intraperitoneal cefotaxime dose. Systemic absorption of cefotaxime was 56.6 and 64.8 percent. Total clearance of cefotaxime was 62 and 79 mL/min/1.73 m2. Nonrenal clearance accounted for nearly 95 percent; renal and CAPD clearance contributed approximately 5 percent of the total clearance. Renal and CAPD clearance measurements of desacetylcefotaxime were similar to those for cefotaxime. Cefotaxime half-life was 1.83 and 2.49 h and desacetylcefotaxime half-life was 8.14 and 11.0 h. CONCLUSIONS: Cefotaxime was well absorbed and therapeutic serum concentrations were achieved after intraperitoneal administration. Renal and CAPD clearances for cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime were low. Cefotaxime nonrenal clearance was unaffected. Further studies are needed to establish appropriate intraperitoneal dosing guidelines of cefotaxime in pediatric CAPD patients.