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Population Pharmacokinetics of Oral Baclofen in Pediatric Patients with Cerebral Palsy

May-14

Journal Article

Authors:

He, Y.

Brunstrom-Hernandez, J.E.

Thio, L.L.

Lackey, S.

Gaebler-Spira, D.

Kuroda, M.M.

Stashinko, E.

Jr., A.H.Hoon

Vargus-Adams, J.

Stevenson, R.D.

Lowenhaupt, S.

Kennedy, D.

Tilton, A.

Krach, L.E.

Lewandowski, A.

Dai, H.

Gaedigk, A.

Leeder, J.S.

Jusko, W.J.

Secondary:
J Pediatr

Volume:
164

Pagination:
1181-1188

URL:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24607242

Keywords:
Absorption; Baclofen; Body Weight; Central/therapeutic use; Cerebral Palsy; Dose-Response Relationship; Drug; Half-Life; Metabolic Clearance Rate Models; Muscle Relaxants; Statistical Multivariate Analysis

Abstract:
<p>OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of oral baclofen and assess impact of patient-specific covariates in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in order to support its clinical use. SUBJECTS DESIGN: Children (2-17 years of age) with CP received a dose of titrated oral baclofen from 2.5 mg 3 times a day to a maximum tolerated dose of up to 20 mg 4 times a day. PK sampling followed titration of 10-12 weeks. Serial R- and S-baclofen plasma concentrations were measured for up to 16 hours in 49 subjects. Population PK modeling was performed using NONMEM 7.1 (ICON PLC; Ellicott City, Maryland). RESULTS: R- and S-baclofen showed identical concentration-time profiles. Both baclofen enantiomers exhibited linear and dose/kg-proportional PK, and no sex differences were observed. Average baclofen terminal half-life was 4.5 hours. A 2-compartment PK model with linear elimination and transit absorption steps adequately described concentration-time profiles of both baclofen enantiomers. The mean population estimate of apparent clearance/F was 0.273 L/h/kg with 33.4% inter-individual variability (IIV), and the apparent volume of distribution (Vss/F) was 1.16 L/kg with 43.9% IIV. Delayed absorption was expressed by a mean transit time of 0.389 hours with 83.7% IIV. Body weight, a possible genetic factor, and age were determinants of apparent clearance in these children. CONCLUSION: The PK of oral baclofen exhibited dose-proportionality and were adequately described by a 2-compartment model. Our population PK findings suggest that baclofen dosage can be based on body weight (2 mg/kg per day) and the current baclofen dose escalation strategy is appropriate in the treatment of children with CP older than 2 years of age.</p>

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