Placental transfer and pharmacokinetics of atropine after a single maternal intravenous and intramuscular administration.
The placental transfer and pharmacokinetics of atropine were studied in 44 healthy parturients undergoing caesarean section. The concentrations in the plasma were determined by a new radioimmunoassay after intravenous (n=32) or after intramuscular (n=12) administration of 0.01 mg/kg of atropine. A fast placental transfer with apparent foetal uptake of the drug was found after intravenous injection. There was also a difference in the umbilical vein and artery concentrations after intramuscular administration. The maternal pharmacokinetics of i.v. atropine obeyed and two-compartment open model with a fast distribution phase (mean ta1/2=1.02 min) and quite fast elimination (t1/2=2.56h). The total apparent volume of distribution was 1.01/kg and the total plasma clearance 6.36 ml/min/kg. The mean peak maternal plasma levels after i.m. atropine administration were found at 1.59 h and the mean calculated half-life of elimination was then 2.1 h. No atropine was found in the amniotic fluid.
D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D001285:Atropine