Ceftazidime and renal function

Abstract

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as measured by 51Chrome-EDTA clearance, decreased with a mean of 10 ml/min during therapy with ceftazidime 2 g bid in 16 patients with initial GFR of 30 to 110 ml/min. A significant increase in the excretion of urinary alanine aminopeptidase was also found. In another three patients with initial GFR of 17-22 ml/min increases in serum creatinine during therapy were noted. These observations indicate that ceftazidime should be used with caution in patients with impaired renal function and not be combined with nephrotoxic drugs until the safety of such combinations has been studied.