Tuberculosis after gastrectomy, plasmatic concentration of antitubercular drugs

We report pharmacokinetic data on two gastrectomized, patients affected by tuberculosis. Drugs plasmatic concentrations were measured after seven days of oral therapy by a validated high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method and the area under the concentration-time-curve (AUC) over 24 hours (AUC0-24) was calculated. A sub-therapeutic level of isoniazid was found in a patient with total gastrectomy with a Cmax of 0,395 mgL and AUC0-24 level of 4.75 hr*mg/L. The level of the other antitubercular drugs was adequate. Measurement of drug level in gastrectomy patients with tuberculosis is warranted.