Renal and Auditory toxic effects of amikacin in children with cancer

H. Faden, G. Deshpande and M. Grossi

Amikacin sulfate was given to 21 febrile children with neutropenia and cancer for 9 +/- 3 days. Peak serum amikacin levels ranged between 13 and 32 microgram/mL, and trough levels were consistently less than 2 microgram/mL. Renal toxic effects were detected in two children (9.5%) and were extremely mild. Two additional children (16.5%) experienced mild, transient, unilateral, high-frequency hearing losses. The lack of serious renal and auditory impairment suggests that children are at less risk than adults from aminoglycoside therapy.