The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of cisatracurium in patients with renal or hepatic failure

Two studies were performed to compare the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of cisatracurium in healthy control patients and in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing elective non-transplant surgery or end-stage liver disease undergoing liver transplantation. Minor differences were detected in the pharmacokinetics of cisatracurium in the healthy control patients and in the patients with renal or liver disease. These differences were associated with small changes in the time to onset of neuromuscular blockade, but were not associated with clinically relevant differences in the recovery profile of cisatracurium. No adverse effects were observed following the administration of cisatracurium to these patient populations.