Pharmacokinetics of zidovudine in cats

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (AZT) in cats. ANIMALS: 6 sexually intact 9-month-old barrier-reared domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were randomly alloted into 3 groups, and zidovudine (25 mg/kg) was administered i.v., intragastrically (i.g.), and p.o. in a 3-way crossover study design with 2-week washout periods between experiments. Plasma samples were collected for 12 hours after drug administration, and zidovudine concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax), time to reach Cmax (Tmax), and bioavailability were compared between i.g. and p.o. routes. Area under the curve (AUC) and terminal phase half-life (t(1/2)) among the 3 administration routes were also compared. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of zidovudine declined rapidly with t(1/2) of 1.4 +/- 0.19 hours, 1.4 +/- 0.16 hours, and 1.5 +/- 0.28 hours after i.v., i.g., and p.o. administration, respectively. Total body clearance and steady-state volume of distribution were 0.41 +/- 0.10 L/h/kg and 0.82 +/- 0.15 L/kg, respectively. Mean Tmax for i.g. administration (0.22 hours) was significantly shorter than Tmax for p.o. administration (0.67 hours). The AUC after i.v. and p.o. administration was 64.7 +/- 16.6 mg x h/L and 60.5 +/- 17.0 mg x h/L, respectively, whereas AUC for the i.g. route was significantly less at 42.5 +/- 9.41 mg x h/L. Zidovudine was well absorbed after i.g. and p.o. administration with bioavailability values of 70 +/- 24% and 95 +/- 23%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cats had slower clearance of zidovudine, compared with other species. Plasma concentrations of zidovudine were maintained above the minimum effective concentration for inhibiting FIV replication by 50% (0.07 microM 0.019 microg/mL] for wild-type FIV clinical isolate) for at least 12 hours after i.v., i.g., or p.o. administration.