This study was undertaken to define the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole in children and included 13 patients, heterogeneous in terms of age (0.3 to 19 years), underlying disease and biological constants, indication of omeprazole administration and associated therapy. The dose administered ranged from 36.9 to 139 mg.1.73 m-2. The pharmacokinetic parameters of omeprazole were: systemic clearance, 0.23 l.kg-1.h-1; volume of distribution, 0.45 l.kg-1; elimination half life 0.86 h; but were highly variable between individuals. Dosage, differences in hepatic and renal function and associated therapy may contribute to inter-individual variability. Within the range of doses administered, the pharmacokinetic parameters were similar to those reported in adults. The drug has been well tolerated in all children.

Extraintestinal manifestations occurred at lower frequency in elderly-onset compared with pediatric-onset patients. In both age populations, presence of EIM at diagnosis independently increased the need for corticosteroid and immunosuppressive treatment.

158 pneumoencephalographies of infants less than 2 years old were examined and 53 of them had a large cavum veli interpositi. A neuroradiological description of this cistern is given and a comparison made with injected anatomical specimens. A statistical comparison with 105 pneumoencephalographies without a cavum veli interpositi does not shown any correlation between the presence of this cistern and pathological conditions. This investigation indicates that a large cavum veli interpositi in the newborn has no relation to hydrocephalus or cerebral atrophy. The younger the child, the more frequent is the presence of this cistern, especially under eight months of age.

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