Developmental pharmacology: ontogenic basis of drug disposition.

Our understanding of clinical pharmacology in pediatrics, although limited, is continually increasing. This increase in our database reflects the supportive perspective of our colleagues, but more importantly, the recognition that specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data in children are necessary for the provision of optimal care. In this review, we have focused on the many predictable influences of body maturation on drug disposition. These data underscore the importance of the many patient-specific variables that directly influence a patient's clinical response to drugs and, thus, the design of appropriate pharmacotherapeutic regimens.