title: Use of hexadeuterated valproic acid and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine the pharmacokinetics of valproic acid.
abstract: Di-[( 3,3,3-2H3]propyl)acetic acid, a hexadeuterated analogue of valproic acid, was synthesized and its pharmacokinetic properties compared with valproic acid. Concentrations of valproic acid and [2H]valproic acid in serum and saliva were determined by GC-MS using selected-ion monitoring. Saliva drug levels were measured with good precision down to 0.1 microgram/mL. Kinetic equivalence of valproic acid and [2H]valproic acid was demonstrated in a single-dose study in a human volunteer. An isotope effect was observed for omega-oxidation, but the difference in metabolism was not sufficient to make [2H]valproic acid biologically nonequivalent. The application of [2H]valproic acid to determine the kinetics of valproic acid under steady-state concentrations was evaluated in the same volunteer. The kinetic data obtained with [2H]valproic acid was consistent with previously reported values for valproic acid including kinetic differences observed between single-dose and steady-state experiments. Saliva levels of valproic acid were found to give a good correlation (r = 0.953) with total serum valproic acid under multiple-dose conditions. A concentration dependence was found for the ratio of saliva valproic acid to free valproic acid in serum, low ratios being observed at high serum concentrations of valproic acid.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003903:Deuterium; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding; D012463:Saliva / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D014635:Valproic Acid; D003903:Deuterium