Pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in hemodialysis patients: a comparative study between diabetic and non-diabetic patients

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is some evidence that differences in extracellular fluid volume and capillary permeability do exist between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This may have an impact on the gentamicin volume of distribution and clearance and thus dosing regimen. The pharmacokinetic parameters of gentamicin [volume of distribution (Vd), clearance (CL), elimination rate constant (K), and half life of elimination (t½)] were studied before hemodialysis in 20 non-diabetic patients (controls) and 20 diabetic patients, in addition to its hemodialysis clearance.