Clinical pharmacokinetics and potentially important drug interactions of sulphinpyrazone

Usefulness of Optimized Human Fecal Material in Simulating the Bacterial Degradation of Sulindac and Sulfinpyrazone in the Lower Intestine

The first aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of optimized human fecal material in simulating sulforeductase activity in the lower intestine by assessing bacterial degradation of sulindac and sulfinpyrazone, two sulforeductase substrates. The second aim was to evaluate the usefulness of drug degradation half-life generated in simulated colonic bacteria (SCoB) in informing PBPK models. Degradation experiments of sulfinpyrazone and of sulindac in SCoB were performed under anaerobic conditions using recently described methods. For sulfinpyrazone, the abundance of clinical data allowed for construction of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model and evaluation of luminal degradation clearance determined from SCoB data. For sulindac, the availability of sulindac sulfide and sulindac sulfone standards allowed for evaluating the formation of the main metabolite, sulindac sulfide, during the experiments in SCoB. Both model compounds degraded substantially in SCoB. The PBPK model was able to adequately capture exposure of sulfinpyrazone and its sulfide metabolite in healthy subjects, in ileostomy and/or colectomy subjects, and in healthy subjects pretreated with metoclopramide by implementing degradation half-lives in SCoB to calculate intrinsic colon clearance. Degradation rates of sulindac and formation rates of sulindac sulfide in SCoB were almost identical, in line with in vivo data suggesting the sulindac sulfide is the primary metabolite in the lower intestine. Experiments in SCoB were useful in simulating sulforeductase related bacterial degradation activity in the lower intestine. Degradation half-life calculated from experiments in SCoB is proven useful for informing a predictive PBPK model for sulfinpyrazone.

A benefit-risk assessment of benzbromarone in the treatment of gout. Was its withdrawal from the market in the best interest of patients?

Benzbromarone, a potent uricosuric drug, was introduced in the 1970s and was viewed as having few associated serious adverse reactions. It was registered in about 20 countries throughout Asia, South America and Europe. In 2003, the drug was withdrawn by Sanofi-Synthélabo, after reports of serious hepatotoxicity, although it is still marketed in several countries by other drug companies. The withdrawal has greatly limited its availability around the world, and increased difficulty in accessing it in other countries where it has never been available.The overall aim of this paper is to determine if the withdrawal of benzbromarone was in the best interests of gouty patients and to present a benefit-risk assessment of benzbromarone. To determine this, we examined (i) the clinical benefits associated with benzbromarone treatment and compared them with the success of alternative therapies such as allopurinol and probenecid, particularly in patients with renal impairment; (ii) the attribution of the reported cases of hepatotoxicity to treatment with benzbromarone; (iii) the incidence of hepatotoxicity possibly due to benzbromarone; (iv) adverse reactions to allopurinol and probenecid. From these analyses, we present recommendations on the use of benzbromarone.Large reductions in plasma urate concentrations in patients with hyperuricaemia are achieved with benzbromarone and most patients normalize their plasma urate. The half-life of benzbromarone is generally short (about 3 hours); however, a uricosuric metabolite, 6-hydroxybenzbromarone, has a much longer half-life (up to 30 hours) and is the major species responsible for the uricosuric activity of benzbromarone, although its metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 in the liver may vary between patients as a result of polymorphisms in this enzyme. It is effective in patients with moderate renal impairment. Standard dosages of benzbromarone (100 mg/day) tend to produce greater hypouricaemic effects than standard doses of allopourinol (300 mg/day) or probenecid (1000 mg/day).Adverse effects associated with benzbromarone are relatively infrequent, but potentially severe. Four cases of benzbromarone-induced hepatotoxicity were identified from the literature. Eleven cases have been reported by Sanofi-Synthélabo, but details are not available in the public domain. Only one of the four published cases demonstrated a clear relationship between the drug and liver injury as demonstrated by rechallenge. The other three cases lacked incontrovertible evidence to support a diagnosis of benzbromarone-induced hepatotoxicity. If all the reported cases are assumed to be due to benzbromarone, the estimated risk of hepatotoxicity in Europe was approximately 1 in 17 000 patients but may be higher in Japan.Benzbromarone is also an inhibitor of CYP2C9 and so may be involved in drug interactions with drugs dependent on this enzyme for clearance, such as warfarin. Alternative drugs to benzbromarone have significant adverse reactions. Allopurinol is associated with rare life-threatening hypersensitivity syndromes; the risk of these reactions is approximately 1 in 56 000. Rash occurs in approximately 2% of patients taking allopurinol and usually leads to cessation of prescription of the drug. Probenecid has also been associated with life-threatening reactions in a very small number of case reports, but it frequently interacts with many renally excreted drugs. Febuxostat is a new xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, which is still in clinical trials, but abnormal liver function is the most commonly reported adverse reaction.Even assuming a causal relationship between benzbromarone and hepatotoxicity in the identified cases, benefit-risk assessment based on total exposure to the drug does not support the decision by the drug company to withdraw benzbromarone from the market given the paucity of alternative options. It is likely that the risks of hepatotoxicity could be ameliorated by employing a graded dosage increase, together with regular monitoring of liver function. Determination of CYP2C9 status and consideration of potential interactions through inhibition of this enzyme should be considered. The case for wider and easier availability of benzbromarone for treating selected cases of gout is compelling, particularly for patients in whom allopurinol produces insufficient response or toxicity.We conclude that the withdrawal of benzbromarone was not in the best interest of patients with gout.

Correlation between inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and disposition of sulfinpyrazone and its metabolites in rabbits. Part II: Multiple dose study

In a crossover study rabbits were given perorally sulfinpyrazone (SO) and the sulfide metabolite (S) every 24 h for 5 days on separate occasions and inhibition of aggregation was measured. The results showed: the dosage regimen is effective if the minimum effective concentration of S is defined to be between 0.5-1.0 microgram ml-1, and the repeated dosing did not cause changes in disposition kinetics except that the terminal half-life of S was reduced after dosing with S. No significant accumulations in trough concentration and inhibition of aggregation were observed. The results obtained in this study could provide some useful information for design of dosage regimen and blood level monitoring for humans.

Renal clearance of sulphinpyrazone in man

Six healthy young volunteers received a single dose of sulphinpyrazone 200 mg p.o. Plasma concentration and urinary excretion rate curves showed large intersubject variation for sulphinpyrazone and its metabolites. The sulphide metabolite could only be detected in plasma and not before 3-7 h after ingestion. The total recovery in urine of all compounds varied from 30-56% of the dose. In two subjects the mean residence time of sulphinpyrazone was twice as long as in the other subjects (10.4 h compared with 4.6 h), but the area under the plasma concentration-time curve was comparable to that in the others (mean: 3.0 mg X ml-1 X min), indicating that drug absorption was quantitatively similar but delayed. The renal clearance of sulphinpyrazone varied from 14-40 ml X min-1 (mean: 28 ml X min-1). In view of the very high plasma protein binding of sulphinpyrazone, active tubular secretion is the predominant mechanism in its renal clearance. The same holds for the sulphone metabolite, which has a mean renal clearance of 24 ml X min-1, and even more for the p-hydroxysulphinpyrazone metabolite, which has a renal clearance of 118 ml X min-1. No unambiguous evidence was found in favour of concentration-dependent renal clearance of sulphinpyrazone or its metabolites over the concentration range studied. The renal clearance, especially of sulphinpyrazone, appeared to be dependent on urine pH and not on urine flow rate.

Acebutolol: ten years of experience

During 10 years of clinical use involving almost 3 million patient-years, acebutolol has become established as a remarkably safe and well-tolerated beta-blocking agent, effective in treating essential hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. The existence of a long-lived active metabolite (diacetolol) confers a 24-hour duration of action, which permits effective use of a once-daily regimen, particularly for hypertension. Acebutolol has low lipid solubility and low protein binding; the former property reduces the risk of central side effects, and the latter means that displacement interactions with other drugs are unlikely. Because acebutolol and its metabolite normally have both renal and hepatic excretion pathways, an alternative pathway is available should either be compromised through disease. Acebutolol is cardioselective, and clinical use has borne out the low incidence of bronchospasm in patients with impaired lung function. The possession of intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) leads to only modest reductions in cardiac output, which in turn reduces the chance of excessive bradycardia and the likelihood of precipitating heart failure. A combination of selectivity and ISA may be responsible for the low incidence of tiredness and cold extremities observed with acebutolol compared with other beta blockers. The unique pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic profile of acebutolol confers several therapeutic advantages and may be responsible for the generally low level of side effects experienced in clinical use.

A direct protective effect of sulphinpyrazone on ischaemic and reperfused rat hearts

Initiation of 60 min ischaemia to rat isolated hearts produced a depression in developed tension and heart rate. Subsequent reperfusion caused a greatly exacerbated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) efflux and limited functional recovery. Sulphinpyrazone (100 ng ml-1 and 1 microgram ml-1) significantly reduced CPK release, particularly after reperfusion, the lower concentration being more effective. A reduction in the mechanical depression during ischaemia and enhanced recovery after reperfusion were seen only with 100 ng ml-1 sulphinpyrazone. Heart rate and coronary perfusion pressure were unaffected by drug treatment. The reduction in reperfusion-induced CPK efflux by 100 ng ml-1 sulphinpyrazone was maximal when the drug was present throughout the perfusion period although some protection was evident when sulphinpyrazone was present either during ischaemia or reperfusion only. An enhanced recovery in contractility was seen only when the drug was present throughout all phases of perfusion. It is suggested that sulphinpyrazone exerts a direct protective effect on the heart particularly during reperfusion. The degree of protection is critically dependent on the concentration of sulphinpyrazone.

Plasma levels of sulfinpyrazone and of two of its metabolites after a single dose and during the steady state

The pharmacokinetics of sulfinpyrazone, and the plasma levels of its sulfide and sulfone metabolites, have been determined after a single oral dose (400 mg) and during steady-state conditions (4 x 200 mg daily for 6 days) in healthy female volunteers. The plasma half-lives of sulfinpyrazone, the sulfone and the sulfide were 3.7, 3.2 and 14.7 h, respectively, during steady-state. After a single dose and during steady state conditions the half-lives of sulfinpyrazone and the sulfone did not differ significantly. The trough plasma levels of the sulfide metabolite exceeded those of the parent compound in four of the six volunteers on the last day of the study. The data suggest that in man the most likely candidate for the prolonged inhibition of platelet aggregation observed after treatment with sulfinpyrazone is its sulfide metabolite, because of its prolonged elimination.

Determinants of the pharmacokinetics of antithrombotic drugs

This review describes a variety of factors which determine the pharmacokinetics of antithrombotic drugs, viz., elimination by hepatic and/or renal clearance, plasma protein binding and drug disposition in the geriatric population. An understanding of biotransformation of acetylsalicylic acid and sulfinpyrazone is critical to understanding their usefulness as antithrombotic agents. Acetylsalicylic acid is rapidly hydrolysed to salicylic acid in the body and the latter may be eliminated by five different routes. Two of the biotransformation processes involving salicylic acid are readily saturable. For this reason, salicylate concentration increases more than proportionately with an increase in dose. Acetylsalicylic acid, but not salicylic acid, acetylates cyclo-oxygenase resulting in its inactivation. It is important in pharmacokinetic studies to measure plasma levels of both acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid. Biotransformation of sulfinpyrazone involves oxidation to the sulfone and reduction to the sulfide. The sulfide has marked antiplatelet activity. Dipyridamole undergoes hepatic biotransformation to a monoglucuronide which is eliminated by biliary and fecal excretion. Sulfinpyrazone, dipyridamole and salicylic acid are highly bound to plasma proteins. Since binding diminishes with age, one must expect therapeutic and toxic effects at lower plasma drug concentrations in the geriatric population. Other factors to be considered in the geriatric group are altered distribution, diminished glomerular filtration rate, and diminished oxidative biotransformation.