Selection of optimal prophylactic aminoglycoside dosage in cancer patients: population pharmacokinetic approaches.

We report an alternative dose-finding approach for the selection of optimal prophylactic aminoglycoside dosage in specific (sub)populations of patients. Relative a priori utility of several intervals of gentamicin or tobramycin (AMG) peak and trough serum levels were assigned by a group of pharmacokinetics experts, assuming prophylactic administration for laryngectomy interventions. A group of 27 adult patients, with normal renal function, undergoing elective surgery for laryngeal problems and treated prophylactically with gentamicin (80 mg t.i.d.) or tobramycin (100 mg t.i.d.) was studied. Two blood samples (peak and trough) were drawn at steady-state for AMG assay. Three different methods…