The effect of age and acetylator phenotype on the pharmacokinetics of sulfasalazine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The pharmacokinetic disposition of sulfasalazine and its metabolites was studied in 8 young and 12 elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Equal numbers of slow and fast acetylators were included in each age group. Patients received enteric-coated sulfasalazine 2g daily for 21 days; specimens of serum and urine were collected for 96 h after administration on days 1 and 21. The elimination half-life of sulfasalazine was greater in the elderly patients. Many disposition parameters of sulfapyridine differed in slow and fast acetylators; of greatest significance were the increased values of steady-state serum concentration in the slow acetylators. There was no effect of age on any sulfapyridine disposition parameters. Values for the steady-state serum concentrations of N-acetyl-5-acetylsalicylic acid were greater in elderly than in young patients. The metabolism of sulfapyridine was markedly affected by acetylator phenotype and this was reflected in the composition of sulfapyridine-related material in the urine. Thus, age is a determinant of the steady-state concentrations of salicylate moieties but acetylator phenotype plays a greater role in determining the serum concentration of sulfapyridine, which has greater therapeutic implications in rheumatology.
Taggart
A J
AJ
Department of Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
McDermott
B J
BJ
Roberts
S D
SD
D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013427:Sulfapyridine / Q000097:blood; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated
D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D013427:Sulfapyridine