Clinical pharmacology in special populations: the extremes of age.

Madlen Gazarian Paediatric Therapeutics Programme, School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospital; Level 3, Emergency Wing, Sydney Children’s Hospital, High Street, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia Tel.: +612 9382 1799 Fax: +612 9382 1401 m.gazarian@ unsw.edu.au “Extrapolation of the results of studies performed predominantly in middle-aged adults to geriatric and pediatric patients, means that these vulnerable patients may be exposed to potentially ineffective therapies and unknown risks of adverse effects.”