The “Ideal” Body Weight for Pediatric Gentamicin Dosing in the Era of Obesity: A Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis

Background: Obese pediatric patients often require dose reductions when initiating gentamicin therapy. An appropriate method for calculating ideal body weight for dosing gentamicin in pediatric patients has not been validated. Methods: A retrospective population pharmacokinetic study was designed and included non-intensive care pediatric patients who received gentamicin and had serum gentamicin concentrations sampled. Actual body weight (ABW), adjusted body weight, and fat-free mass (FFM) were used to describe the pharmacokinetic variables. Descriptive statistical methods were used for the population, and pharmacokinetic analysis occurred with NONMEM (ICON Plc, Dublin, Ireland). Simulation was performed to estimate dosing based on adjustments in body weight. Results: A total of 520 patients met inclusion criteria (male 57.3%, mean age 9.6 ± 4.9 years, ABW 38.0 ± 24.3 kg). Obesity was present in 21.3% of the patients and overweight in 15.8%. Gentamicin was administered at 2.17 ± 0.86 mg/kg per dose. A median of 2 (interquartile range, 1–3) gentamicin serum concentrations were sampled at a median 1.8 (interquartile range, 1.1–7.8) hours after a dose. Population pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated a 2-compartment model with allometrically scaled FFM providing the best fit. Other significant covariates included serum creatinine and age. Simulation demonstrated increased doses per body weight for traditional and once-daily dosing when using FFM for gentamicin dosing. Conclusions: FFM should be used to adjust ABW for empirically dosing gentamicin in pediatric patients aged 2–18 years.