@article{3054463,
    title = "Pharmacokinetics of clarithromycin in the prostate: Implications for the
treatment of chronic abacterial prostatitis",
    author = "Giannopoulos, A and Koratzanis, G and Giamarellos-Bourboulis, EJ and and Panou, C and Adamakis, I and Giamarellou, H",
    journal = "Asian Journal of Urology",
    year = "2001",
    volume = "165",
    number = "1",
    pages = "97-99",
    publisher = "Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins",
    issn = "2214-3882",
    doi = "10.1097/00005392-200101000-00024",
    keywords = "prostate; prostatitis; clarithromycin; pharmacokinetics",
    abstract = "Purpose: We studied the pharmacokinetics of orally administered
clarithromycin in prostatic tissue to define its role in the treatment
of chronic abacterial prostatitis caused by intracellular pathogens.
Materials and Methods: A total of 45 men receiving 3 oral doses of 750
mg. clarithromycin at 12-hour intervals underwent suprapubic
prostatectomy for benign prostate hyperplasia 4, 5, 6 and 7 hours after
the last drug dose in 13, 12, 10 and 10 patients, respectively.
Concentrations were determined in the prostate tissue and in plasma by
an agar diffusion assay.
Results: A mean peak level of clarithromycin of 3.22 and 3.08 mug./gm.
of tissue was achieved 4 hours after the third drug dose at the center
and periphery of the adenoma, respectively. Tissue levels remained
statistically superior to plasma levels at all intervals.
Conclusions: The oral administration of clarithromycin achieved a
prostate level much higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration of
clarithromycin for the intracellular pathogens of chronic prostatitis.
Thus, clarithromycin may be considered for treating chronic abacterial
prostatitis."
}