Pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in preterm and term neonates with gastroesophageal reflux

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gestational age on pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in newborns with gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive and pharmacokinetic study was carried out in 30 pre-term and 20 full-term babies. 3 mg/kg of ranitidine was administered intravenously to all the babies and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h following the administration, samples of blood were drawn to assess ranitidine levels using high performance liquid chromatographic technique. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetics of ranitidine had a bi-exponential behavior with a half-life elimination of (t(1/2)el) 2.79 h, area under curve (AUC) of 1688 ng/mL, volume of distribution (Vd) of 1.44 L/kg, and clearance (Cl) of 5.9 L/kg/h. The median plasmatic concentration in pre-terms was 1113 ng/mL and 280 ng/mL in full-terms. Vd, t1/2 and Cl presented high values in preterm although the correlation of Cl with glomerular filtration in term newborns was better. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma levels of ranitidine depend on the gestational age of the newborns. However, the possible relationship between after-birth age and pharmacokinetics of the neonates as their internal organs get matured without minding their gestational background.