title: The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the metabolite 3-desacetylvecuronium (ORG 7268) and its parent compound, vecuronium, in human volunteers.
abstract: The pharmacology of 3-desacetylvecuronium, the principal metabolite of vecuronium, was investigated. We studied 12 healthy volunteers, each on two occasions. First they received 3-desacetylvecuronium alone and then, on a later occasion, vecuronium. Six subjects received a large dose of each drug (pharmacokinetic study), the remaining six received a small dose (pharmacodynamic study). Drug concentrations in plasma and urine were measured using capillary gas chromatography. Neuromuscular block was assessed by measuring force of contraction of the adductor pollicis. Drug plasma concentration vs. time and neuromuscular effect data were analyzed by nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. 3-Desacetylvecuronium, compared with vecuronium (median, range in parentheses), had a smaller plasma clearance, 3.51 (2.11-6.57) vs. 5.39 (5.04-7.19) ml.kg-1.min-1; a larger steady-state distribution volume, 254 (215-410) vs. 152 (111-170) ml.kg-1; a longer terminal elimination half-life 116 (44-672) vs. 34 (25-61) min and a longer mean residence time, 67 (42-145) vs. 26 (18-32) min (P < .05). Renal clearances of 3-desacetylvecuronium and vecuronium were 0.85 (0.15-1.24) and 0.58 (0.16-0.66) ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively (P < .05). Conversion to 3-desacetylvecuronium accounted for 12% of vecuronium's clearance. Concentrations of 3-desacetylvecuronium and vecuronium that produced 50% neuromuscular block were 123 (109-154) and 102 (71-123) ng.ml-1, respectively (P < .05). 3-Desacetylvecuronium is a potent neuromuscular blocking drug and may be responsible for episodes of prolonged paralysis after long-term administration of vecuronium to patients in intensive care units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szenohradszky
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Segredo
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gruenke
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; C047940:3-deacetylvecuronium; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide