Ex vivo human placental transfer of trovafloxacin.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the ex vivo human placental transfer of trovafloxacin from the maternal circulation to the fetal circulation. METHODS Six placentas from uncomplicated, term, vaginal or cesarean deliveries were studied using the ex vivo isolated cotyledon perfusion chamber; 14C-antipyrine was used as a reference compound to determine the clearance index (CI) of trovafloxacin. RESULTS The CI of trovafloxacin was 0.19 +/- 0.13 at a mean trough concentration of 1.38 +/- 0.22 microg/ml and 0.16 +/- 0.10 at a mean peak concentration of 7.48 +/- 2.3 microg/ml as determined by our newly developed high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay. Tissue concentration did not exceed maternal concentration, and there was little or no accumulation when the perfusion system was closed for 1 hr. CONCLUSIONS Trovafloxacin crosses the placenta by simple diffusion and does not accumulate in the media to any extent, nor does it bind to tissue or accumulate in the placenta.