The Study of Salicylate Pharmacokinetics in Intoxicated Infants and Children

Abstract

It would be reasonable to assume that all o r most of the important aspects of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of a long established and widely used group of drugs such as the salicylates (particularly aspirin and salicylic acid) have been fully elucidated many years ago. Surprisingly, this i s not the case. Detailed studies of the pharmacokinetics of salicylate absorption and elimination have been carried out only recently [1-3]. These studies have revealed that man eliminates salicylate relatively more slowly as the amount of the drug in the body i s increased. This effect is due to a limited biotransformation capacity which i s apparent also in the elimination of certain other drugs [4]. It has potentially important implications with respect to the causation and treatment of salicylate poisoning, particularly in in-fants and children. It is appropriate therefore to summarize the available knowledge of salicylate elimination in man and to present some results of recent studies of salicylate pharmacokinetics in intoxicated infants and children.