Disposition kinetics of erythromycin in normal and experimentally-induced febrile rabbits.

The disposition kinetics of erythromycin were determined in normal and endotoxin-induced febrile rabbits following intravenous injection of a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. In febrile rabbits, body weight, blood pH, total lipids and total proteins in plasma remained unchanged, packed cell volume, albumin and the albumin/globulin ratio reduced while glucose and globulins increased significantly. The mean plasma drug concentration was lower under febrile conditions at all the sampling times except at 480 and 720 min after drug administration where the levels remained the same. The values for t1/2elim and MRT of the drug were observed to be prolonged while that of the Clt reduced and Vd increased in the febrile rabbits. The febrile condition resulted in an alteration in the disposition kinetics of erythromycin suggesting an adjustment of the dosage under febrile conditions.