Penetration of erythromycin into human peripheral lymph

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of a new, microencapsulated erythromycin base, which was given as 500 mg orally, was studied in healthy subjects. The concentrations were determined in serum and peripheral lymph obtained from the leg. The mean peak concentration in lymph was approximately 24% of the corresponding serum levels. The elimination half-life was 2·1 h in serum compared to 5·0 h in lymph fluid. The areas under the serum concentration curves were about three times higher than under the lymph curves. The erythromycin in human peripheral lymph was characterized by later and lower peaks and longer elimination half-life than in serum.