title: [Clinical pharmacokinetics of alfentanyl (author's transl)].
abstract: In 7 patients (ASA class I and II) the pharmacokinetic behaviour after bolus injection of alfentanyl was investigated. The plasma decay curves in each patient could be described in terms of an open two-compartment model. The plasma half-life of alfentanyl in the alpha-phase was about 4 min, the elimination half-life was 70 min. The total volume of distribution was calculated to 33 1. The total plasma clearance amounted to 336 ml/min. Plasma protein binding of alfentanyl was about 92%; binding to human erythrocytes showed values less than 0.1%. The renal excretion of unchanged alfentanyl amounted to only 0.4% of the total dose in a time period of 24h. Clinical observations showed a minor effect on cardiovascular system; apnoea was seen in all patients. Chest wall rigidity was the main unwanted effect in 5 of 7 cases. The onset of action could be observed during the injection of 5 mg alfentanyl. The recovery period was extremely short. Therefore, alfentanyl seems to be of advantage for short surgical interventions; for longer lasting anaesthesia the development of an infusion model may be helpful.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015760:Alfentanil; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D001798:Blood Proteins; D015760:Alfentanil; D005283:Fentanyl
vernacular_title: Alfentanil (R 39209) ein neues kurzwirkendes Opioid. Pharmakokinetik und erste klinische Erfahrungen.