The pharmacokinetic distribution of 10 cephalosporin compounds, cephalothin, cephaloridine, cephaloglycine, cephalexin, cefazolin, cephapirin, cephradine, cephacentrile, cefoxitin, and cefamandole, in patients with various degrees of renal function was reviewed. The mean serum half-life (t1/2) of each cephalosporin compound was calculated from reported data in patients grouped according to their degree of renal function, as determined by the rate of creatinine clearance. Mean t1/2 values in patients with normal renal function were compared with t1/2 values for the same cephalosporin in patients with moderate renal failure and severe renal azotemia. The effect of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on the mean serum t1/2 of each cephalosporin was also determined. The mean serum t1/2 of each cephalosporin progressively increased as the rate of creatinine clearance decreased. Hemodialysis decreases the t1/2 of cephaloridine, cephalexin, cefazolin, and cephacetrile but only minimally influences the t1/2 of cephalothin and cefamandole. Peritoneal dialysis reduces the t1/2 of cephalothin and cephaloridine but only minimally influences the t1/2 of cefazolin and cefamandole.