Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1985-4-30
pubmed:abstractText
The pharmacokinetics of alfentanil were studied in 11 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 10 control patients during general anesthesia. All patients received 50 micrograms . kg-1 alfentanil as an intravenous bolus injection. Plasma concentrations were measured at intervals up to 10 h, using a specific radioimmunoassay technique. Protein binding was measured by equilibrium dialysis. Patients with cirrhosis had a significantly lower (P less than 0.01) plasma clearance of alfentanil of 1.6 +/- 1.0 ml . min-1 . kg-1 (mean +/- SD) instead of 3.1 +/- 1.6 ml . min-1 . kg-1 in the controls. The total apparent volume of distribution was similar in the two groups. The elimination half-life was prolonged from 90 +/- 18 min in the controls to 219 +/- 128 min in the cirrhotics (P less than 0.01). Patients with cirrhosis had a higher (P less than 0.01) alfentanil plasma-free fraction (18.6 +/- 9.4%) compared with the control patients (11.5 +/- 3.9%). When kinetic parameters were corrected for protein binding, the unbound volume of distribution and the free drug clearance were decreased significantly in patients with cirrhosis. Since the concentration alpha 1-glycoprotein to which alfentanil mainly is bound in plasma did not differ in the two groups, it is suggested that the increase in the free fraction is caused by an alteration of binding sites of this protein in patients with cirrhosis. Owing to its delayed elimination and increased free fraction, alfentanil will exert a prolonged and pronounced effect in patients with cirrhosis.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0003-3022
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
62
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
480-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1985
pubmed:articleTitle
Alfentanil pharmacokinetics in patients with cirrhosis.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article