Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Patients with the Nephrotic Syndrome
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Pharmacokinetics of drugs in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. R Gugler, … , J B Cohlmia, D L Azarnoff J Clin Invest. 1975;55(6):1182-1189. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI108035. Research Article Since the binding of drugs to plasma proteins can significantly after the intensity of pharmacological and toxicological effects of drugs, we studied the pharmacokinetics of three drugs in patients with hypoalbuminemia secondary to the nephrotic syndrome, but with relatively normal renal function. No significant differences were seen in the pharmacokinetic parameters observed for antipyrine, a drug which is less than 10% bound to plasms proteins. The percentage of unbound diphenylhydantoin, a highly plasms protein-bound drug, was found in patients with the nephrotic syndrome to be twice that of healthy individuals (19,2 vs. 10.1%, P smaller than 0.001). However, there was also a lower steady-state plasma concentration of diphenylhydantoin (2.9 plus or minus 0.6 vs. 6.8 plus or minus 0.6 mug/ml, P smaller than 0.001) secondary to an increase in the plasms clearance (0.048 plus or minus 0.019 vs. 0.022 plus or minus 0.006 liter/kg.h, P smaller than 0.001) in the nephrotic patients. The net effect is no difference in the absolute concentration of unbound diphenylhydantoin in healthy individuals (0.69 plus or minus 0.05 mug/ml) and patients with the nephrotic syndrome (0.59 plus or minus 0.06 mug/ml). Qualitatively, similar differences were observed with clofibrate. The dose of these drugs need not be routinely reduced in patients with the nephrotic syndrome as long as they have reasonably normal renal function (creatinine clearance […] Find the latest version: https://jci.me/108035/pdf Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Patients with the Nephrotic Syndrome ROLAND GUGLER, DON W. SHOEMAN, DAVID H. HUFFMAN, JERRY B. COHLMIA, and DANIEL L. AZARNOFF From the Clinical Pharmacology-Toxicology Center, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66103, and Veterans Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri 64128 A B S T R A C T Since the binding of drugs to plasma tration of unbound drug is essential to the proper in- proteins can significantly alter the intensity of pharma- terpretation of total blood levels and subsequent treat- cological and toxicological effects of drugs, we studied ment of the patient. the pharmacokinetics of three drugs in patients with hypoalbuminemia secondary to the nephrotic syndrome, INTRODUCTION but with relatively normal renal function. No signifi- Binding of drugs to plasma proteins can profoundly cant differences were seen in the pharmacokinetic influence their pharmacodynamic or toxicological ac- parameters observed for antipyrine, a drug which is tions, as well as their disposition (1). Minor interindi- less than 10% bound to plasma proteins. The percentage vidual changes in the degree of binding of highly pro- of unbound diphenylhydantoin, a highly plasma pro- tein-bound drugs can produce significant changes in tein-bound drug, was found in patients with the ne- the amount of unbound drug; abnormal binding in dis- phrotic syndrome to be twice that of healthy individuals ease states such as uremia (2, 3) and cirrhosis of the (19.2 vs. 10.1%, P <0.001). However, there was also liver (4) may lead to even higher levels of unbound a lower steady-state plasma concentration of diphenyl- drug. The binding of diphenylhydantoin (DPH)' was hydantoin (2.9±0.6 vs. 6.8±0.6 Ag/ml, P < 0.001) sec- observed to decrease as the concentration of albumin, ondary to an increase in the plasma clearance (0.048+ which binds many drugs, was reduced in in vitro stud- 0.019 vs. 0.022±0.006 liter/kg. h, P <0.001) in the ies with diluted plasma (5). The effects of reduced nephrotic patients. The net effect is no difference in the binding secondary to low albumin concentrations in absolute concentration of unbound diphenylhydantoin in vivo on pharmacokinetics of drugs have not been stud- healthy individuals (0.69±0.05 Mg/ml) and patients ied extensively. with the nephrotic syndrome (0.59±0.06 ug/ml). Quali- Elevated concentrations of unbound drug secondary tatively, similar differences were observed with clo- to hypoalbuminemia may be associated with increased fibrate. The dose of these drugs need not be routinely toxicity. For example, Bridgman, Rusen, and Thorp reduced in patients with the nephrotic syndrome as long (6) reported that five out of six patients with the ne- as they have reasonably normal renal function (creati- phrotic syndrome developed adverse effects to clofibrate nine clearance greater than 50 ml/min). With all when treated for the associated hyperlipoproteinemia. highly bound acidic drugs, knowledge of the concen- The Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program (7) reported an increased incidence of toxicity from Presented in part at a meeting of the American Federa- DPH in patients with hypoalbuminemia and suggested tion for Clinical Research in Atlantic City, N. J., April have increased levels of 1973. that these patients circulating Dr. Gugler is a trainee in clinical pharmacology and re- unbound DPH. cipient of a fellowship from Paul Martini-Stiftung der Medizinisch Pharmazeutischen Studiengesellschaft. His pres- 'Abbreviations used in this paper: app Vd, apparent vol- ent address is: Department of Medicine, University of ume of distribution; CPIB, chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid; Bonn, Bonn, West Germany. DPH, diphenylhydantoin; HPPH, p-hydroxyphenylphenyl- Received for publication 10 October 1974 and in revised hydantoin; Kei, elimination rate constant; 4-OH A, 4-hy- form 21 January 1975. droxyantipyrine. 1182 The Journal of Clinical Investigation Volume 55 June 1975* 1182-1189 The present work was designed to study the phar- excretion of protein in urine greater than 3 g/24 h were macokinetics and metabolism of two highly protein- accepted. Individuals with creatinine clearance less than 50 ml/min or evidence of liver function impairment were arbi- bound drugs, DPH and clofibrate, and of antipyrine, trarily excluded. To prevent interference with necessary which is not significantly bound to plasma proteins, in treatment, patients were not taken off their current medi- patients with the nephrotic syndrome. cation. Thus, patients on diuretics were accepted, but the above criteria excluded patients with marked peripheral METHODS edema. The control group was selected to match the ages Subjects of the patients with nephrosis. Study design 12 patients (9 men and 3 women) with the nephrotic syndrome and 18 healthy volunteers (14 men and 4 women) 10 of the 12 nephrotic patients initially received anti- were studied (Table I). Their ages ranged between 20 and pyrine as a single dose. Subsequently, six were given DPH 58 yr. Before entering the study, each subject had a com- and four clofibrate for 14 days. Two patients received plete history, physical examination, and laboratory tests chronic clofibrate treatment only. All patients of the DPH which included complete blood count, urinalysis, plasma group in addition received a single intravenous dose of protein and protein electrophoresis, protein content of 24-h DPH at least 2 wk after completion of the chronic treat- urine, creatinine clearance, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, ment period. Control subj ects were tested in three groups and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. Written, in- of six with one drug only; those on DPH also received the formed consent was obtained from each volunteer after an intravenous dose. A small breakfast was allowed 2 h before explanation of the risks, hazards, and inconveniences rea- the single-dose studies. sonably to be expected. Aiitipyric. 10 mg antipyrine/kg was given orally dis- The patients were not selected according to the etiology solved in 250 ml water after an overnight fast. 10-ml blood of their nephrotic disease; only patients with an albumin samples were obtained at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h after concentration in plasma equal to or less than 3 g/dl and the dose. All urine excreted was collected in fractions TABLE I Weight, Concomitant Drug Therapy, Drug Studied, and Clinical Laboratory Data for the Volunteers in This Study Protein excretion Body Plasma Plasma Creatinine in 24-h Patients weight Concomitant therapy proteins albumin clearance urine kg g/dl g/dl ml/min g DPH 1 72 Prednisone, 15 mg q.o.d. 6.4 2.05 85 3.7 2 64 Furosemide, 50 mg; 5.8 2.9 108 3.0 cyclophosphamide, 50 mg 3 85 Furosemide, 40 mg; 6.5 2.3 52 17.1 digitoxin, 0.05 mg 4 76 Spironolactone, 100 mg 6.4 2.5 63 6.3 5 78 5.7 2.6 101 5.5 6 63 Cyclophosphamide, 75 mg; 4.6 2.2 93 8.4 prednisone, 15 mg Clofibrate 7 74 5.0 2.75 61 12.4 8 57 Digoxin, 0.25 mg 6.8 2.5 112 5.9 9 49 Spironolactone, 50 mg; 5.5 2.3 83 10.4 cyclophosphamide, 100 mg 10 53 Furosemide, 60 mg 3.9 1.67 68 7.6 11 97 6.1 3.0 76 4.2 12 104 Spironolactone, 75 mg 2.9 1.2 88 6.4 All patients Mean 72.8 5.5 2.33 82.5 7.3 SE 4.7 0.3 0.14 5.3 1.2 Control subject (n = 18) Mean 70.7 7.1 3.5 101.0 SE 3.1 0.16 0.11 6.8 Pharmacokinetics of Drugs in Patients with the Nephrotic Syndrome 11183S PLASMA urine, 1 ml of 0.5 N HCl was added and the CPIB ex- tl/2 CLEARANCE Vd tracted into 8 ml of chloroform. After shaking and centri- (h) (liter/NgSh) (liter/kg) fuging the sample, the aqueous layer was aspirated and 7 25- 0.10- 2.0- ml of the organic layer was transferred to another tube and NS 1- NS NS evaporated to dryness.