Practical management of therapeutic diphenylhydantoin concentrations in children

Objective. Development of easy, practical methods for the management and optimisation of therapeutic diphenylhydantoin (DPH) concentrations in children.Design. Investigation of DPH concentration profiles and pharmacokinetic parameters in children with poorly controlled epilepsy. Subsequent determination of individual-specific DPH maintenance dosage and volume of distribution data suitable for use in routine therapeutic concentration management procedures.Setting. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Department of Pharmacology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital.Subjects. Children of both sexes between the ages of 4 and 12 years with poorly controlled epilepsy receiving DPH as sole medication.Results. In all subjects evaluated epilepsy was unsatisfactorily controlled because of inadequate DPH dosage regimens. Individual-specific maintenance dosage and volume of distribution data could be calculated for all individuals participating in the trial. The calculated data were· suitable for use in routine management procedures and in no instance was it necessary to recalculate parameters in a 12-month follow-up period subsequent to evaluation.Conclusions. Therapeutic DPH concentration profiles can be managed satisfactorily in children if individual-specific DPH pharmacokinetic parameters are derived and skilfully applied