Transl Clin Pharmacol.  2015 Dec;23(2):42-45. 10.12793/tcp.2015.23.2.42.

Clearance

• Holford N
• Yim DS

• KMID: 2351806
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12793/tcp.2015.23.2.42

Abstract

This tutorial deals with basic concepts of clearance, the most important parameter in pharmacokinetics but often challenging for students in clinical pharmacology. Its relationships with dose, concentration and elimination rate are discussed using a physical model and examples of commonly used drugs, as well as its physiological aspects pertaining to the blood flow to differing organs. Finally, application of clearance to the calculation of maintenance dose rate and half-life is used to show how it is essential in pharmacotherapy and clinical pharmacology.

Keyword

clearance; pharmacokinetics; clinical pharmacology

MeSH Terms

Drug Therapy
Half-Life
Humans
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacology, Clinical

Figure

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  Figure 1. The definition of clearance

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  Figure 2. The bathtub model for clearance.

Reference

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