Pharmacokinetics of ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Aim: A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using plasma concentration data (n = 7025) from 380 patients to examine the relationship between ribavirin dose and its pharmacokinetics.

Methods: Ribavirin pharmacokinetics were described by a three-compartment model with sequential zero-order and a first-order absorption processes. Interoccasion variability and food effects were included.

Results: Lean body weight (range 41-91 kg) was the only covariate with a clinically significant influence on ribavirin pharmacokinetics, affecting clearance (15.3-23.9 l h(-1)) and the volume of the larger peripheral compartment.

Conclusion: The model provided a good description of the available data, confirmed by accurate estimates of parameter values and low residual variability (17%).

Figures

Figure 1

Ribavirin clearance (CL) vs. lean body weight (LBW). The black line is the estimated relationship, as described by CL = 19.8 × [1 + 0.00869 × (LBW − 67)] l h−1