title: Effect of allopurinol on the pharmacokinetics of 6-mercaptopurine in rabbits.
abstract: The effect of allopurinol on the pharmacokinetics of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) was studied in rabbits. 6MP alone and in combination with allopurinol was administered i.v. at two dosage levels (2.5 and 20 mg/kg). The plasma concentrations of 6MP and its major metabolite, 6-thiouric acid, were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasma levels of 6MP decay biexponentially. The influence of allopurinol on the pharmacokinetic parameters of 6MP was as follows: (a) a 2-fold increase in the half-life and area under the concentration-time curve; (b) a 2-fold decrease in the total body clearance; and (c) an approximate 3-fold decrease in elimination rate constant. The influence of allopurinol on the pharmacokinetic parameters of 6-thiouric acid was negligible. The results suggest that allopurinol serves to increase the plasma level of 6MP by inhibiting its catabolism and thus contributing to a greater availability of 6MP to the tissues.
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000493:Allopurinol; D015122:Mercaptopurine