Comparative pharmacokinetics of intravenous cephalexin in pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant, nonlactating goats

The aims of this study were to describe and compare the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of cephalexin (10 mg/kg) after its intravenous (i.v.) administration to five goats in three different physiological status: nonpregnant nonlactating (NPNL), pregnant (P) and nonpregnant lactating (L). Blood samples were collected at predetermined times, and plasma concentrations of cephalexin were measured by microbiological assay. Relevant pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Statistical comparison was performed applying the nonparametric ANOVA. No significant differences were found for cephalexin pharmacokinetic parameters between the L and the NPNL group. Median V-dss was significantly lower in pregnant goats (0.09 [0.07-0.10] L/kg) compared with NPNL goats (0.16 [0.14-0.49] L/kg). Median total Cl and V-dz were significantly lower in pregnant goats (0.25 [0.19-0.29] L/h.kg and 0.11 [0.10-0.13] L/kg, respectively) than in lactating goats (0.40 [0.32-0.57] L/h kg and 0.20 [0.14-0.23] L/kg, respectively). Median AUC(0-infinity) was significantly higher in pregnant goats (37.79 [34.75-52.10] mu g.h/mL) than in lactating goats (25.11 [17.44-31.14] mu g.h/mL). Our study showed that even though some pharmacokinetic parameters of cephalexin are altered in pregnant and lactating goats, these differences are unlikely to be of clinical importance; therefore, no dose adjustment would be necessary during pregnancy and lactation.