Skip to contents

Fluconazole (Momper 2016)

Source: vignettes/articles/Momper_2016_fluconazole.Rmd
Momper_2016_fluconazole.Rmd

Model and source

  • Citation: Momper JD, Capparelli EV, Wade KC, Kantak A, Dhanireddy R, Cummings JJ, Nedrelow JH, Hudak ML, Mundakel GT, Natarajan G, Gao J, Laughon M, Smith PB, Benjamin DK Jr; Fluconazole Prophylaxis Study Team. Population pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in premature infants with birth weights less than 750 grams. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016;60(9):5539-5545.
  • Article: https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.00963-16

The packaged structural model is loaded via readModelDb():

mod <- readModelDb("Momper_2016_fluconazole")

Population

The model was developed from 141 premature infants with birth weights below 750 g enrolled in a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial of fluconazole prophylaxis for invasive candidiasis (Momper 2016 Table 1). At the first PK evaluation, infants had a median postnatal age of 23 days (range 3-47), gestational age at birth 24.7 weeks (22.6-28.7), postmenstrual age 28.3 weeks (23.7-35.1), and body weight 0.71 kg (0.345-2.680). Median serum creatinine was 0.7 mg/dL (0.1-3.6); subjects with serum creatinine above 2 mg/dL or transaminase elevations above 250 U/L at randomization were excluded. The cohort was 60% female; race distribution was 53% Black or African American, 40% White, 5% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1% Asian. Sixty-seven percent were delivered by Cesarean section and 81% were intubated at enrollment. Each infant received fluconazole 6 mg/kg intravenously over approximately one hour or orally, twice weekly (Tuesdays and Fridays) for up to 42 days.

A total of 604 plasma samples (619 collected, 15 excluded) entered the population PK analysis; 368 samples (61%) were scavenged residual specimens from routine clinical laboratory draws and the remainder were timed PK samples. The paper notes that scavenged samples were as informative as scheduled samples and did not bias parameter estimates (CL estimated from timed samples alone differed by only 6%).

The same metadata is available programmatically via rxode2::rxode(readModelDb(...))$population (the population field is attached to the rxode model object built by nlmixr2lib).

Source trace

Per-parameter origin is recorded as an in-file comment next to each ini() entry in inst/modeldb/specificDrugs/Momper_2016_fluconazole.R. The table below collects them in one place.

Equation / parameter Value Source location
lka (absorption rate, 1/h) log(0.96) Table 3, theta_KA
lcl (CL, L/h/kg^0.75) log(0.0127) Table 3, theta_CL
lvc (V, L/kg) log(1.00) Table 3, theta_V
lfdepot (F1, fraction) log(1.00) Table 3, theta_F1
e_wt_cl (allometric on CL, fixed) 0.75 Methods: “Clearance was scaled by allometric weight (WT^0.75)”
e_wt_vc (allometric on V, fixed) 1.00 Methods: “volume of distribution was scaled by weight (WT^1.0)”
e_creat_cl (SCR power exponent on CL) -0.41 Table 3, theta_SCR
e_page_cl (PMA power exponent on CL) 2.05 Table 3, theta_PMA
Final CL equation CL = theta_CL * WT^0.75 * (SCR/0.8)^-0.41 * (PMA/28)^2.05 Results paragraph 4 and Table 2 final row
etalcl (omega^2, CL CV 23%) 0.05153 Table 3 omega^2_CL
etalvc (omega^2, V CV 13%) 0.01676 Table 3 omega^2_V
etalfdepot (omega^2, F1 CV 31%) 0.09175 Table 3 omega^2_F1
propSd (proportional residual, CV%) 0.46 Table 3 sigma proportional
addSd (additive residual, ng/mL) 505 Table 3 sigma additive
Structural model: 1-compartment first-order absorption n/a Methods: “1-compartment model (ADVAN2, TRANS2) and first-order conditional estimation (FOCE with interaction)”

The IIV variances above were derived from the published log-normal CV%s via omega^2 = log(CV^2 + 1). The absorption rate constant ka was reported without BSV in the source (“Due to limited numbers of early samples after oral administration in the data set, between-subject variability (BSV) was not estimated for the absorption rate constant”), so the model does not include etalka.

Virtual cohort

The original PK data are not publicly available. We simulate a virtual cohort whose covariate distributions approximate Table 1 of Momper 2016, holding covariates time-fixed at the first-PK-evaluation values reported there. The model itself supports time-varying weight, postmenstrual age, and serum creatinine; users with a longitudinal demographic table can replace make_cohort() with their own builder.

set.seed(2026)
n_sub <- 200

# Per Table 1: WT median 710 g, range 345-2680. Use a truncated log-normal anchored
# at the median with bounds approximating the reported range.
sim_wt_kg <- function(n) {
  wt <- exp(stats::rnorm(n, mean = log(0.71), sd = 0.45))
  pmin(pmax(wt, 0.345), 2.680)
}

# PMA in weeks centered on median 28.3 (range 23.7-35.1).
sim_pma_wk <- function(n) {
  pma <- stats::rnorm(n, mean = 28.3, sd = 2.4)
  pmin(pmax(pma, 23.7), 35.1)
}

# Serum creatinine (mg/dL) median 0.7, range 0.1-3.6; right-skewed.
sim_scr <- function(n) {
  scr <- exp(stats::rnorm(n, mean = log(0.7), sd = 0.55))
  pmin(pmax(scr, 0.1), 3.6)
}

cohort <- tibble(
  id    = seq_len(n_sub),
  WT    = sim_wt_kg(n_sub),
  PMA_w = sim_pma_wk(n_sub),
  PAGE  = PMA_w / 4.35,
  CREAT = sim_scr(n_sub)
)

knitr::kable(
  cohort |>
    summarise(
      WT_median    = stats::median(WT),
      WT_min       = min(WT),
      WT_max       = max(WT),
      PMA_median_w = stats::median(PMA_w),
      PMA_min_w    = min(PMA_w),
      PMA_max_w    = max(PMA_w),
      CREAT_median = stats::median(CREAT),
      CREAT_min    = min(CREAT),
      CREAT_max    = max(CREAT)
    ),
  caption = "Simulated cohort summary (compare against Momper 2016 Table 1)."
)
Simulated cohort summary (compare against Momper 2016 Table 1).
WT_median WT_min WT_max PMA_median_w PMA_min_w PMA_max_w CREAT_median CREAT_min CREAT_max
0.7095438 0.345 2.32781 28.33749 23.7 33.48795 0.7823157 0.1757441 3.6

Single-dose IV simulation and NCA validation

The first simulation administers a single 6 mg/kg IV dose (treatment = “IV”) and a separate single 6 mg/kg oral dose (treatment = “PO”) to the same 200 virtual infants and follows them for one twice-weekly dosing interval (84 h).

make_dose_events <- function(cohort, route, tau_h = 84) {
  dose_mg <- 6 * cohort$WT  # 6 mg/kg
  cmt     <- if (route == "IV") "central" else "depot"
  sample_times <- c(0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84)
  bind_rows(
    cohort |>
      transmute(id, time = 0, amt = dose_mg, cmt = cmt,
                evid = 1, WT, CREAT, PAGE,
                treatment = route),
    expand_grid(id = cohort$id, time = sample_times) |>
      left_join(cohort |> select(id, WT, CREAT, PAGE), by = "id") |>
      mutate(amt = 0, cmt = "central", evid = 0,
             treatment = route)
  ) |>
    arrange(id, time, desc(evid))
}

events_iv <- make_dose_events(cohort, "IV")
events_po <- make_dose_events(cohort |> mutate(id = id + 1000L), "PO")
events_sd <- bind_rows(events_iv, events_po)
stopifnot(!anyDuplicated(unique(events_sd[, c("id", "time", "evid")])))
sim_sd <- rxode2::rxSolve(mod, events = events_sd,
                          keep = c("treatment", "WT", "CREAT", "PAGE"),
                          returnType = "data.frame")
#> ℹ parameter labels from comments will be replaced by 'label()'
sim_sd <- sim_sd |> dplyr::filter(!is.na(Cc))
sim_sd |>
  group_by(time, treatment) |>
  summarise(Q05 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.05, na.rm = TRUE),
            Q50 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.50, na.rm = TRUE),
            Q95 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.95, na.rm = TRUE),
            .groups = "drop") |>
  ggplot(aes(time, Q50, fill = treatment, colour = treatment)) +
  geom_ribbon(aes(ymin = Q05, ymax = Q95), alpha = 0.20, colour = NA) +
  geom_line() +
  scale_y_continuous(name = "Fluconazole concentration (ng/mL)") +
  scale_x_continuous(name = "Time after dose (h)", breaks = c(0, 12, 24, 48, 84)) +
  labs(title = "Single 6 mg/kg dose, virtual cohort (200 infants per route)",
       caption = "Median with 5th/95th-percentile ribbon.")

conc_df <- sim_sd |>
  dplyr::filter(!is.na(Cc), time > 0) |>
  dplyr::transmute(id, time, Cc, treatment)

dose_df <- bind_rows(events_iv, events_po) |>
  dplyr::filter(evid == 1) |>
  dplyr::transmute(id, time, amt, treatment)

conc_obj <- PKNCA::PKNCAconc(conc_df, Cc ~ time | treatment + id,
                             concu = "ng/mL", timeu = "h")
dose_obj <- PKNCA::PKNCAdose(dose_df, amt ~ time | treatment + id,
                             doseu = "mg")

intervals <- data.frame(
  start      = 0,
  end        = 84,
  cmax       = TRUE,
  tmax       = TRUE,
  auclast    = TRUE,
  half.life  = TRUE
)

nca_res <- PKNCA::pk.nca(PKNCA::PKNCAdata(conc_obj, dose_obj, intervals = intervals))
#> Warning: Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed
#> Requesting an AUC range starting (0) before the first measurement (0.5) is not allowed

nca_tbl <- as.data.frame(nca_res$result) |>
  dplyr::group_by(treatment, PPTESTCD) |>
  dplyr::summarise(median = stats::median(PPORRES, na.rm = TRUE),
                   q05    = stats::quantile(PPORRES, 0.05, na.rm = TRUE),
                   q95    = stats::quantile(PPORRES, 0.95, na.rm = TRUE),
                   n_obs  = sum(!is.na(PPORRES)),
                   .groups = "drop") |>
  dplyr::arrange(treatment, PPTESTCD)
knitr::kable(nca_tbl, digits = 2,
             caption = "PKNCA single-dose summary, virtual cohort (median, 5th/95th percentile).")
PKNCA single-dose summary, virtual cohort (median, 5th/95th percentile).
treatment PPTESTCD median q05 q95 n_obs
IV adj.r.squared 1.00 1.00 1.00 200
IV auclast NA NA NA 0
IV clast.pred 1819.19 642.08 3346.91 200
IV cmax 5921.61 4935.14 7389.71 200
IV half.life 48.23 25.31 94.04 200
IV lambda.z 0.01 0.01 0.03 200
IV lambda.z.n.points 11.00 11.00 11.00 200
IV lambda.z.time.first 1.00 1.00 1.00 200
IV lambda.z.time.last 84.00 84.00 84.00 200
IV r.squared 1.00 1.00 1.00 200
IV span.ratio 1.72 0.88 3.28 200
IV tlast 84.00 84.00 84.00 200
IV tmax 0.50 0.50 0.50 200
PO adj.r.squared 1.00 1.00 1.00 200
PO auclast NA NA NA 0
PO clast.pred 1697.09 540.40 3528.79 200
PO cmax 5357.89 3371.07 10108.93 200
PO half.life 49.43 25.06 87.48 200
PO lambda.z 0.01 0.01 0.03 200
PO lambda.z.n.points 8.00 8.00 8.00 200
PO lambda.z.time.first 8.00 8.00 8.00 200
PO lambda.z.time.last 84.00 84.00 84.00 200
PO r.squared 1.00 1.00 1.00 200
PO span.ratio 1.54 0.87 3.03 200
PO tlast 84.00 84.00 84.00 200
PO tmax 4.00 4.00 4.00 200

The paper does not tabulate classical NCA parameters directly, but a sanity check against the typical-subject prediction confirms internal consistency. For a typical infant at the covariate references (WT 0.71 kg, SCR 0.8 mg/dL, PMA 28 weeks), CL = 0.0127 * 0.71^0.75 ~ 0.0098 L/h and V = 1.0 * 0.71 = 0.71 L; the elimination rate constant is therefore CL/V ~ 0.0138 1/h, corresponding to a half-life of approximately 50 h. This agrees with the paper’s narrative that “fluconazole CL is low and is associated with a long half-life, which allows infrequent administration.”

Multi-dose simulation and trough validation

Momper 2016 reports that the 6 mg/kg twice-weekly regimen maintains trough fluconazole concentrations above the 2000 ng/mL target in 80% of simulated infants at week 1 and 59% at week 4 (Results paragraph 6 and Figure 3). We reproduce this Monte Carlo experiment.

# Twice-weekly schedule: dose every 84 h. End-of-week troughs are observed
# just before the corresponding next-dose time (~24 h on each side of the
# weekly midpoint). Simulate 4 weeks of dosing (8 doses) and follow troughs
# through week 4.
dose_times   <- 84 * (0:7)                # 0, 84, 168, ..., 588 h
trough_times <- 168 * (1:4) - 0.001       # just before t = 168, 336, 504, 672
obs_times    <- sort(unique(c(
  seq(0, 672, by = 6),                    # PK profile grid
  trough_times                            # weekly troughs
)))

events_md <- bind_rows(
  expand_grid(id = cohort$id, time = dose_times) |>
    left_join(cohort |> dplyr::select(id, WT, CREAT, PAGE), by = "id") |>
    mutate(amt = 6 * WT, cmt = "central", evid = 1, treatment = "IV_6mgkg_2wk"),
  expand_grid(id = cohort$id, time = obs_times) |>
    left_join(cohort |> dplyr::select(id, WT, CREAT, PAGE), by = "id") |>
    mutate(amt = 0, cmt = "central", evid = 0, treatment = "IV_6mgkg_2wk")
) |>
  arrange(id, time, desc(evid))

sim_md <- rxode2::rxSolve(mod, events = events_md,
                          keep = c("treatment", "WT", "CREAT", "PAGE"),
                          returnType = "data.frame")
#> ℹ parameter labels from comments will be replaced by 'label()'
sim_md <- sim_md |> dplyr::filter(!is.na(Cc))
sim_md |>
  dplyr::filter(time %in% setdiff(obs_times, trough_times)) |>
  group_by(time) |>
  summarise(Q05 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.05, na.rm = TRUE),
            Q50 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.50, na.rm = TRUE),
            Q95 = stats::quantile(Cc, 0.95, na.rm = TRUE),
            .groups = "drop") |>
  ggplot(aes(time / 24, Q50)) +
  geom_ribbon(aes(ymin = Q05, ymax = Q95), alpha = 0.20) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_hline(yintercept = 2000, linetype = "dashed", colour = "darkred") +
  scale_x_continuous(name = "Time after first dose (days)", breaks = seq(0, 28, by = 7)) +
  scale_y_continuous(name = "Fluconazole concentration (ng/mL)") +
  labs(title = "Multi-dose simulation: 6 mg/kg IV twice weekly for 4 weeks",
       caption = "Median with 5th/95th-percentile ribbon. Dashed red: 2000 ng/mL target.")

trough_tbl <- sim_md |>
  dplyr::filter(time %in% trough_times) |>
  dplyr::mutate(week = round(time / 168 + 0.001, 0)) |>
  dplyr::group_by(week) |>
  dplyr::summarise(
    n_above_target = sum(Cc > 2000, na.rm = TRUE),
    n_total        = sum(!is.na(Cc)),
    pct_above      = 100 * n_above_target / n_total,
    .groups        = "drop"
  )
knitr::kable(trough_tbl, digits = 1,
             caption = "Percentage of simulated trough concentrations above the 2000 ng/mL MIC target.")
Percentage of simulated trough concentrations above the 2000 ng/mL MIC target.
week n_above_target n_total pct_above
1 113 200 56.5
2 120 200 60.0
3 120 200 60.0
4 120 200 60.0

The paper reports 80% of simulated troughs above the 2000 ng/mL target at week 1, falling to 59% at week 4. The downward trend in the paper reflects time-varying maturation of clearance: as postmenstrual age advances, the (PMA / 28)^2.05 factor multiplies CL by approximately 1.6 over four weeks at this age range, accelerating fluconazole elimination. The virtual cohort in this vignette holds PMA constant at the first-PK-evaluation value so the trough proportions instead approach steady state without reflecting maturation. Users who want to reproduce the paper’s Monte Carlo simulation should supply per-time-point PAGE and CREAT covariates (e.g., advancing PAGE by 1/4.35 months per simulated week) and pass them through rxSolve(..., covsInterpolation = "locf").

Assumptions and deviations

  • Covariate distributions. Table 1 of Momper 2016 reports median and range for each continuous covariate (WT, PMA, SCR) but not the parametric distribution. We assume right-skewed log-normal forms truncated to the reported ranges. The actual data set is sparser at the extremes than this parametric form suggests.
  • Time-varying covariates held constant. The published model uses time-varying SCR and PMA (the paper applies “carry-forward / backfill imputation” for missing values). For simulation simplicity the virtual cohort holds covariates fixed at the first-PK-evaluation values reported in Table 1. Users who want the published time-varying behaviour can pass per-time-point covariate columns through rxSolve(..., events = ..., covsInterpolation = "locf").
  • ka IIV omitted. The paper does not estimate BSV on ka (Discussion: limited oral early-absorption samples). The model file accordingly does not include etalka. Users who add etalka for downstream simulation should source the value externally.
  • Postmenstrual age conventions. The paper expresses PMA in weeks with reference 28. The nlmixr2lib canonical PAGE column stores months, so the model rescales the reference to 28 / 4.35 = 6.4368 months. The numerical effect on CL is identical because both forms enter as a ratio.
  • Race / sex / ethnicity / intubation / mode-of-delivery covariates. Tested in the univariable screen (Table 2 and Results paragraph 5) but not retained in the final model. They are not included in covariateData.
  • Bioavailability anchor. F1 is reported as a point estimate of 1.00 with SE 0.065 (Table 3, theta_F1). It is encoded as estimated, not fixed, with the published IIV CV 31%; users who require a structural bound at 1.0 can re-estimate after wrapping lfdepot in fixed(log(1)).