Dose-linearity of the pharmacokinetics of an intravenous [C-14]midazolam microdose in children

Aims Drug disposition in children may vary from adults due to age-related variation in drug metabolism. Microdose studies present an innovation to study pharmacokinetics (PK) in paediatrics; however, they should be used only when the PK is dose linear. We aimed to assess dose linearity of a [C-14]midazolam microdose, by comparing the PK of an intravenous (IV) microtracer (a microdose given simultaneously with a therapeutic midazolam dose), with the PK of a single isolated microdose. Methods Preterm to 2-year-old infants admitted to the intensive care unit received [C-14]midazolam IV as a microtracer or microdose, followed by dense blood sampling up to 36 hours. Plasma concentrations of [C-14]midazolam and [C-14]1-hydroxy-midazolam were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental PK analysis was performed and a population PK model was developed. Results Of 15 infants (median gestational age 39.4 [range 23.9-41.4] weeks, postnatal age 11.4 [0.6-49.1] weeks), 6 received a microtracer and 9 a microdose of [C-14]midazolam (111 Bq kg(-1); 37.6 ng kg(-1)). In a 2-compartment PK model, bodyweight was the most significant covariate for volume of distribution. There was no statistically significant difference in any PK parameter between the microdose and microtracer, nor in the area under curve ratio [C-14]1-OH-midazolam/[C-14]midazolam, showing the PK of midazolam to be linear within the range of the therapeutic and microdoses. Conclusion Our data support the dose linearity of the PK of an IV [C-14]midazolam microdose in children. Hence, a [C-14]midazolam microdosing approach may be used as an alternative to a therapeutic dose of midazolam to study developmental changes in hepatic CYP3A activity in young children

Dose-linearity of the pharmacokinetics of an intravenous [C-14]midazolam microdose in children

Aims Drug disposition in children may vary from adults due to age-related variation in drug metabolism. Microdose studies present an innovation to study pharmacokinetics (PK) in paediatrics; however, they should be used only when the PK is dose linear. We aimed to assess dose linearity of a [C-14]midazolam microdose, by comparing the PK of an intravenous (IV) microtracer (a microdose given simultaneously with a therapeutic midazolam dose), with the PK of a single isolated microdose. Methods Preterm to 2-year-old infants admitted to the intensive care unit received [C-14]midazolam IV as a microtracer or microdose, followed by dense blood sampling up to 36 hours. Plasma concentrations of [C-14]midazolam and [C-14]1-hydroxy-midazolam were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental PK analysis was performed and a population PK model was developed. Results Of 15 infants (median gestational age 39.4 [range 23.9-41.4] weeks, postnatal age 11.4 [0.6-49.1] weeks), 6 received a microtracer and 9 a microdose of [C-14]midazolam (111 Bq kg(-1); 37.6 ng kg(-1)). In a 2-compartment PK model, bodyweight was the most significant covariate for volume of distribution. There was no statistically significant difference in any PK parameter between the microdose and microtracer, nor in the area under curve ratio [C-14]1-OH-midazolam/[C-14]midazolam, showing the PK of midazolam to be linear within the range of the therapeutic and microdoses. Conclusion Our data support the dose linearity of the PK of an IV [C-14]midazolam microdose in children. Hence, a [C-14]midazolam microdosing approach may be used as an alternative to a therapeutic dose of midazolam to study developmental changes in hepatic CYP3A activity in young children

Proof of Concept: First Pediatric [14C]microtracer Study to Create Metabolite Profiles of Midazolam

Growth and development affect drug-metabolizing enzyme activity thus could alter the metabolic profile of a drug. Traditional studies to create metabolite profiles and study the routes of excretion are unethical in children due to the high radioactive burden. To overcome this challenge, we aimed to show the feasibility of an absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) study using a [(14) C]midazolam microtracer as proof of concept in children. Twelve stable, critically ill children received an oral [(14) C]midazolam microtracer (20 ng/kg; 60 Bq/kg) while receiving intravenous therapeutic midazolam. Blood was sampled up to 24 hours after dosing. A time-averaged plasma pool per patient was prepared reflecting the mean area under the curve plasma level, and subsequently one pool for each age group (0-1 month, 1-6 months, 0.5-2 years, and 2-6 years). For each pool [(14) C]levels were quantified by accelerator mass spectrometry, and metabolites identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. Urine and feces (n = 4) were collected up to 72 hours. The approach resulted in sufficient sensitivity to quantify individual metabolites in chromatograms. [(14) C]1-OH-midazolam-glucuronide was most abundant in all but one age group, followed by unchanged [(14) C]midazolam and [(14) C]1-OH-midazolam. The small proportion of unspecified metabolites most probably includes [(14) C]midazolam-glucuronide and [(14) C]4-OH-midazolam. Excretion was mainly in urine; the total recovery in urine and feces was 77-94%. This first pediatric pilot study makes clear that using a [(14) C]midazolam microtracer is feasible and safe to generate metabolite profiles and study recovery in children. This approach is promising for first-in-child studies to delineate age-related variation in drug metabolite profiles

Dose-linearity of the pharmacokinetics of an intravenous C-14 midazolam microdose in children

Aims: Drug disposition in children may vary from adults due to age‐related variation in drug metabolism. Microdose studies present an innovation to study pharmacokinetics (PK) in paediatrics; however, they should be used only when the PK is dose linear. We aimed to assess dose linearity of a [14C]midazolam microdose, by comparing the PK of an intravenous (IV) microtracer (a microdose given simultaneously with a therapeutic midazolam dose), with the PK of a single isolated microdose. Methods: Preterm to 2‐year‐old infants admitted to the intensive care unit received [ 14C]midazolam IV as a microtracer or microdose, followed by dense blood sampling up to 36 hours. Plasma concentrations of [14C]midazolam and [14C]1‐hydroxy‐midazolam were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental PK analysis was performed and a population PK model was developed. Results: Of 15 infants (median gestational age 39.4 [range 23.9–41.4] weeks, postnatal age 11.4 [0.6–49.1] weeks), 6 received a microtracer and 9 a microdose of [14C] midazolam (111 Bq kg−1 ; 37.6 ng kg−1 ). In a 2‐compartment PK model, bodyweight was the most significant covariate for volume of distribution. There was no statistically significant difference in any PK parameter between the microdose and microtracer, nor in the area under curve ratio [14C]1‐OH‐midazolam/[14C]midazolam, showing the PK of midazolam to be linear within the range of the therapeutic and microdoses. Conclusion: Our data support the dose linearity of the PK of an IV [14C]midazolam microdose in children. Hence, a [14C]midazolam microdosing approach may be used as an alternative to a therapeutic dose of midazolam to study developmental changes in hepatic CYP3A activity in young children

Computer-modeling-based QSARs for analyzing experimental data on biotransformation and toxicity

Over the past decades the description of quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) has been undertaken in order to find predictive models and/or mechanistic explanations for chemical as well as biological activities. This includes QSAR studies in toxicology. In an approach beyond the classical QSAR approaches, attempts have been made to define parameters for the QSAR studies on the basis of quantum mechanical computer calculations. The conversion of relatively small xenobiotics within the active sites of biotransformation enzymes can be expected to follow the general rules of chemistry. This makes the description of QSARs on the basis of only one parameter, chosen on the basis of insight in the mechanism, feasible. In contrast, toxicological endpoints can very often be the result of more than one physico-chemical interaction of the compound with the model system of interest. Therefore the description of quantitative structure–toxicity relationships often does not follow a one-descriptor mechanistic approach but starts from the other end, describing QSARs by multi-parameter approaches. The present paper focuses on the possibilities and restrictions of using computer-based QSAR modeling for analyzing experimental toxicological data, with emphasis on examples from the field of biotransformation and toxicity

Enteral Acetaminophen Bioavailability in Pediatric Intensive Care Patients Determined With an Oral Microtracer and Pharmacokinetic Modeling to Optimize Dosing

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVES: Decreasing morbidity and mortality by rationalizing drug treatment in the critically ill is of paramount importance but challenging as the underlying clinical condition may lead to large variation in drug disposition and response. New microtracer methodology is now available to gain knowledge on drug disposition in the intensive care. On the basis of studies in healthy adults, physicians tend to assume that oral doses of acetaminophen will be completely absorbed and therefore prescribe the same dose per kilogram for oral and IV administration. As the oral bioavailability of acetaminophen in critically ill children is unknown, we designed a microtracer study to shed a light on this issue. DESIGN: An innovative microtracer study design with population pharmacokinetics. SETTING: A tertiary referral PICU. PATIENTS: Stable critically ill children, 0-6 years old, and already receiving IV acetaminophen. INTERVENTIONS: Concomitant administration of an oral C radiolabeled acetaminophen microtracer (3 ng/kg) with IV acetaminophen treatment (15 mg/kg every 6 hr). MEASUREMENTS: Blood was drawn from an indwelling arterial or central venous catheter up to 24 hours after C acetaminophen microtracer administration. Acetaminophen concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and C concentrations by accelerated mass spectrometry. MAIN RESULTS: In 47 patients (median age of 6.1 mo; Q1-Q3, 1.8-20 mo) the mean enteral bioavailability was 72% (range, 11-91%). With a standard dose (15 mg/kg 4 times daily), therapeutic steady-state concentrations were 2.5 times more likely to be reached with IV than with oral administration. CONCLUSIONS: Microtracer studies present a new opportunity to gain knowledge on drug disposition in the intensive care. Using this modality in children in the pediatric intensive care, we showed that enteral administration of acetaminophen results in less predictable exposure and higher likelihood of subtherapeutic blood concentration than does IV administration. IV dosing may be preferable to ensure adequate pain relief

A 14C oral bioavailability microtracer study shows that oral acetaminophen exposure is low and erratic in critically ill children: a case for I.V. acetaminophen

Pharmacolog

Successful Use of [(14)C]Paracetamol Microdosing to Elucidate Developmental Changes in Drug Metabolism

BACKGROUND: We previously showed the practical and ethical feasibility of using [(14)C]-microdosing for pharmacokinetic studies in children. We now aimed to show that this approach can be used to elucidate developmental changes in drug metabolism, more specifically, glucuronidation and sulfation, using [(14)C]paracetamol (AAP). METHODS: Infants admitted to the intensive care unit received a single oral [(14)C]AAP microdose while receiving intravenous therapeutic AAP every 6 h. [(14)C]AAP pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. [(14)C]AAP and metabolites were measured with accelerator mass spectrometry. The plasma area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity and urinary recovery ratios were related to age as surrogate markers of metabolism. RESULTS: Fifty children [median age 6 months (range 3 days-6.9 years)] received a microdose (3.3 [2.0-3.5] ng/kg; 64 [41-71] Bq/kg). Plasma [(14)C]AAP apparent total clearance was 0.4 (0.1-2.6) L/h/kg, apparent volume of distribution was 1.7 (0.9-8.2) L/kg, and the half-life was 2.8 (1-7) h. With increasing age, plasma and urinary AAP-glu/AAP and AAP-glu/AAP-sul ratios significantly increased by four fold, while the AAP-sul/AAP ratio significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Using [(14)C]labeled microdosing, the effect of age on orally administered AAP metabolism was successfully elucidated in both plasma and urine. With minimal burden and risk, microdosing is attractive to study developmental changes in drug disposition in children

Proteomic Analysis of the Developmental Trajectory of Human Hepatic Membrane Transporter Proteins in the First Three Months of Life

Human hepatic membrane-embedded transporter proteins are involved in trafficking endogenous and exogenous substrates. Even though impact of transporters on pharmacokinetics is recognized, little is known on maturation of transporter protein expression levels, especially during early life. We aimed to study the protein expression of 10 transporters in liver tissue from fetuses, infants, and adults. Transporter protein expression levels [ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC)B1, ABCG2, ABCC2, ABCC3, bile salt efflux pump, glucose transporter 1, monocarboxylate transporter 1, organic anion transporter polypeptide (OATP)1B1, OATP2B1, and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2) were quantified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in snap-frozen postmortem fetal, infant, and adult liver samples. Protein expression was quantified in isolated crude membrane fractions. The possible association between postnatal and postmenstrual age versus protein expression was studied. We studied 25 liver samples, as follows: 10 fetal [median gestational age 23.2 wk (range 16.4-37.9)], 12 infantile [gestational age at birth 35.1 wk (27.1-41.0), postnatal age 1 wk (0-11.4)], and 3 adult. The relationship of protein expression with age was explored by comparing age groups. Correlating age within the fetal/infant age group suggested four specific protein expression patterns, as follows: stable, low to high, high to low, and low-high-low. The impact of growth and development on human membrane transporter protein expression is transporter-dependent. The suggested age-related differences in transporter protein expression may aid our understanding of normal growth and development, and also may impact the disposition of substrate drugs in neonates and young infants