title: Differentiation of absorption and first-pass gut and hepatic metabolism in humans: studies with cyclosporine.
abstract: The low and variable bioavailability of cyclosporine has been attributed to poor absorption. However, recent studies have suggested that intestinal first-pass metabolism exerts a significant effect on bioavailability. We describe theory and methods to differentiate the contribution from oral absorption and intestinal and hepatic metabolism to overall cyclosporine bioavailability. Analysis of data from previous studies in our laboratories shows that in the absence of intestinal metabolism, cyclosporine absorption from its presently available dosage form averages at least 65% +/- 12% in healthy volunteers and 77% +/- 19% in kidney transplant patients. Analysis also suggests that the extraction ratio for cyclosporine in the gut is approximately twice the hepatic extraction and that cyclosporine absorption does not present a problem, with an average of 86% of the drug absorbed intact from its commercially available product in healthy volunteers. The boundary condition analysis described should have broad application in the differentiation of factors responsible for poor bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0446, USA.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Benet
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Wacher
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001682:Biological Availability; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D004917:Erythromycin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D007654:Ketoconazole; D012293:Rifampin