Influence of renal function on the pharmacokinetics of lomefloxacin compared with other fluoroquinolones.

Fluoroquinolones have similar chemical structures but wide differences in their pharmacokinetic profiles. Disparity in fluoroquinolone elimination is most evident in patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency. Ofloxacin is almost exclusively eliminated by the kidney, whereas pefloxacin is predominantly cleared by the liver. The fluoroquinolones eliminated by both renal and nonrenal routes (hepatic and transintestinal) include norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, temafloxacin, and lomefloxacin. The primary renal mechanism of elimination for norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fleroxacin, temafloxacin, and lomefloxacin is glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Both total clearance and renal clearance significantly correlate with creatinine clearance for these fluoroquinolones, and creatinine clearance is a useful clinical marker on which to base dosage adjustments. For some fluoroquinolones, dosage adjustments are recommended when creatinine clearances fall below 30-40 mL/min. This is especially evident for lomefloxacin, temafloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, and fleroxacin. There is very little removal of fluoroquinolones from the plasma during hemodialysis due to their extensive tissue distribution.