1. What is mg/kg to mg/m² Conversion?

The mg/kg to mg/m² conversion adjusts medication doses from weight-based to body surface area (BSA) based calculations. This is particularly important in chemotherapy and other medications where BSA provides a more accurate dosing parameter than weight alone.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( \text{mg/kg} \) — Dose per kilogram of body weight
• \( \text{Weight}_{\text{kg}} \) — Patient's weight in kilograms
• \( \text{BSA}_{\text{m²}} \) — Patient's body surface area in square meters

Explanation: The formula converts a weight-based dose to a BSA-based dose by accounting for the patient's body surface area, which often correlates better with metabolic rate than weight alone.

3. Importance of BSA-based Dosing

Details: BSA-based dosing is particularly important in chemotherapy, pediatric medications, and other drugs where toxicity is a concern. It provides more precise dosing than weight-based calculations alone, especially for patients who are very tall, short, or have unusual body composition.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the weight-based dose in mg/kg, the patient's weight in kilograms, and their BSA in square meters. All values must be positive numbers. The calculator will provide the equivalent dose in mg/m².

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: When should I use mg/m² instead of mg/kg?
A: Use mg/m² when the medication protocol specifies BSA-based dosing, particularly for chemotherapy agents and certain pediatric medications.

Q2: How do I calculate BSA?
A: BSA can be calculated using formulas like Du Bois, Mosteller, or Haycock, using height and weight measurements.

Q3: Are there standard BSA values?
A: Average adult BSA is about 1.7 m² for men and 1.6 m² for women, but should be calculated individually for dosing purposes.

Q4: Why is BSA important in drug dosing?
A: BSA correlates with metabolic rate and organ size better than weight alone, making it a better predictor of drug distribution and clearance.

Q5: Can I use this for all medications?
A: No, only use this conversion when the medication protocol specifically calls for BSA-based dosing.