Antipyrine metabolism in man

Antipyrine pharmacokinetics in women receiving conjugated estrogens

The pharmacokinetics of a single 1.0 to 1.2-g intravenous dose of antipyrine was studied in 22 healthy female volunteers aged 28 to 70 years (mean, 45 years). Eleven subjects had been taking a conjugated estrogen preparation for at least 3 months; the other 11 subjects who were not taking conjugated estrogens and who were matched for age, weight, and smoking patterns, served as a control group. Plasma antipyrine concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in multiple plasma samples drawn 24 to 48 hours after dosage. Mean +/- SE pharmacokinetic variables in control and conjugated-estrogen groups were volume of distribution, 0.57 +/- 0.02 versus 0.56 +/- 0.02 L/kg; elimination half-life, 11.0 +/- 0.82 versus 12.6 +/- 0.89 hours; and clearance, 0.63 +/- 0.06 versus 0.54 +/- 0.03 mL/min/kg. None of the differences was significant. Although antipyrine clearance is significantly impaired by oral contraceptives, there is no evidence of altered antipyrine pharmacokinetics from treatment with conjugated estrogens.

Studies on in vitro antipyrine metabolism by 13C,15N double labeled method

The capacities of forms of cytochrome P-450 to oxidize antipyrine were compared. An isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring assay was developed to quantify the three main metabolites, norantipyrine, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine and 4-hydroxyantipyrine. 13C,15N-Double labeled antipyrine was used as a substrate and the metabolites were analyzed as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. Among forms of cytochrome P-450 examined, a male-specific form of P-450, namely P-450-male, showed higher activity to form all the three metabolites. The other forms were responsible only for the formation of norantipyrine and 4-hydroxyantipyrine. The activities of liver microsomes from untreated male and female rats and rats treated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or polychlorinated biphenyl were expressed dependent on the activities of forms of cytochrome P-450 examined.

Quantitation of norantipyrine sulphate and norantipyrine glucuronide as major metabolites of antipyrine in man and rat

Two assay procedures are described for the quantitation of norantipyrine sulphate and norantipyrine glucuronide present in biological material. One, a selective acid hydrolytic assay procedure that affords the discriminative determination of both conjugates without prior separation, measures free norantipyrine by tlc-uv. The other is a tlc separation procedure for intact norantipyrine conjugates, which, in conjunction with radiolabelled material, derived from [3-14C]antipyrine, enables the direct quantitation of both conjugates independently. In man, about 25% of dose of antipyrine (1200 mg) was excreted as norantipyrine glucuronide within 48 h. The amount of norantipyrine sulphate was small. In the rat, norantipyrine sulphate represented about 15-20% of the dose of antipyrine (40-50 mg kg-1); no norantipyrine glucuronide was formed. Free norantipyrine has not been detected in urine of either species after antipyrine dosage. Pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene in the rat substantially enhanced excretion of norantipyrine sulphate, whereas induction with phenobarbitone was without effect on the microsomal N-demethylation of antipyrine. The lability of free norantipyrine was examined under different conditions and contrasted with the relative stability of norantipyrine conjugates. Two of the main degradation products of norantipyrine were identified as 4-phenylazo-norantipyrine and a 4,4'-bipyrazole-derivative.

Association between plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol and antipyrine metabolism in alcoholics

Seven patients entering an alcoholic detoxification and treatment unit exhibited elevated levels of plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and enhanced metabolic disposal of antipyrine. Following a 2-week abstinence treatment, the HDLC levels were reduced by 28% (from 64 to 47 mg/100 ml) and the t 1/2 of antipyrine was extended from 12.4 to 13.7 hours. The extent of the HDLC reduction correlated with the antipyrine t 1/2 changes (r = -0.753, P = 0.05).

Quantitation and urinary pattern of 4,4'-dihydroxy-antipyrine, 4-hydroxy-antipyrine and 3-hydroxymethyl-antipyrine, as main metabolites of antipyrine in man and rat

A t.l.c.-assay has been developed for the simultaneous determination from the urine of man and animals of three major hydroxylated metabolites of antipyrine (4,4'-dihydroxy-antipyrine, 4-hydroxy-antipyrine, 3-hydroxymethyl-antipyrine). The methodology is also applicable to bile fluid, liver perfusate and liver homogenate. Genuine conjugates are cleaved by acid hydrolysis and free, acid stable metabolites are extracted. Extracts are subjected to t.l.c. and the chromatograms analysed quantitatively by u.v.-reflectance measurements using authentic materials as standards. Calibration curves are linear with a correlation coefficient r greater than 0.990. Recovery for each metabolite is greater than 95%. Reproducibility of the method is good, with variation coefficients in the range of 3-7%, depending on concentration. The sensitivity of the method is sufficient for practical needs. The specificity of the procedure was confirmed using radio-labelled antipyrine. In man, 4-hydroxy-antipyrine is the principal hydroxylation product in this series, accounting for about 35-40% of the dose. 3-Hydroxymethyl-antipyrine makes up for about 13-17% and 4,4'-dihydroxy-antipyrine represents 3-6% of the dose of antipyrine. In the rat, 4-hydroxy-antipyrine accounts for about 15-31%, 3-hydroxymethyl-antipyrine for 22-28% and 4,4'-dihydroxy-antipyrine for up to 11-18% of the dose. Variation of this pattern in different strains is moderate. In both species, the major portion of phase-I metabolites is excreted as conjugates. Part of them appears in a free form.

Comparison of the in vivo and in vitro rates of formation of the three main oxidative metabolites of antipyrine in man

1 The metabolism of antipyrine to its three main oxidative metabolites, 4-hydroxyantipyrine, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine and norphenazone was investigated in vivo and in vitro in separate groups of subjects with normal hepatic function and in the same group of patients with suspected liver disease. 2 The rank order for the rate of formation of the three metabolites of antipyrine was similar in vivo and in vitro. 3 There was no significant correlation between the rates of formation of any pair of antipyrine metabolites either in vivo or in vitro. 4 Despite this there was a significant correlation between the in vivo and in vitro rates for formation of each of the three metabolites in the same group of patients. 5 It is concluded that determination of rates of formation of antipyrine metabolites from their excretion in urine provides an indication of the activity of the enzymes involved in their formation.

The monitoring of saliva drug levels: psychiatric applications

An overview is presented of the status of human saliva as a clinical monitoring medium in medicine and psychiatry. Despite the present controversy about the reliability of saliva lithium levels, an evaluation of the prospects of saliva for other pharmacokinetic estimations as well is recommended. The second part of the paper outlines the authors' attempt to expand the use of saliva monitoring in a depot neuroleptic clinic and a methadone maintenance program. This technique, well accepted by the patient populations, is found useful as a screening tool for drug use and compliance can be checked. It can also be indicated prior to the evaluation of the toxicity of prescribed medication as well as the assessment of drug interaction. On humanitarian, clinical and economical grounds, further investigation of the clinical applications of saliva in psychiatric practice is warranted.

An improved combined gas chromatographic mass spectrometric assay for the estimation of norphenazone in urine

An improved, combined gas chromatographic mass spectrometric assay for the estimation of norphenazone in urine is described. A structural analogue of norphenazone is used as internal standard and derivatization of both norphenazone and the analogue gives these compounds better gas chromatographic properties. These modifications increase the precision and accuracy of the assay.

Variation of microsomal mixed function oxidase(s) and human lung cancer

Animal and human studies on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) have demonstrated wide inter-individual variation. First attempts to link this variation to the susceptibility to certain cancers have been successful in mice but remained inconclusive in man. In a new approach, saliva antipyrine half-lives and metabolic clearance rates have been used to assess individual rates of benzo]a]pyrene metabolism in human subjects. Saliva antipyrine half-lives and metabolic clearance rates have been measured in 57 patients with lung cancer, 90% of whom had quit smoking more than three months prior to the test, 57 cancer-free matched controls, and 59 healthy smoking controls. The mean antipyrine half-life was significantly shorter (P less than 0.001) in lung cancer patients when compared with the cancer-free matched control group, but differed little from that of the smoking group (P less than 0.05). The data support the previous observation than lung cancer patients have increased oxidation rates which, in addition to smoking, might have predisposed them to developing lung cancer.