title: Stereoselective pharmacokinetics of ketamine and norketamine after constant rate infusion of a subanesthetic dose of racemic ketamine or S-ketamine in Shetland ponies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pharmacokinetics of ketamine and norketamine enantiomers after constant rate infusion (CRI) of a subanesthetic dose of racemic ketamine or S-ketamine in ponies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five 6-year-old Shetland pony geldings that weighed between 101 and 152 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a crossover study, each pony received a CRI of racemic ketamine (loading dose, 0.6 mg/kg; CRI, 0.02 mg/kg/min) and S-ketamine (loading dose, 0.3 mg/kg; CRI, 0.01 mg/kg/min), with a 1-month interval between treatments. Arterial blood samples were collected before and at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes during drug administration and at 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after discontinuing the CRI. Plasma ketamine and norketamine enantiomers were quantified by use of capillary electrophoresis. Individual R-ketamine and S-ketamine concentration-versus-time curves were analyzed by use of a monocompartmental model. Plasma disposition curves for R-norketamine and S-norketamine were described by estimating the area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax), and time until Cmax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma concentrations of S-ketamine decreased and biodegradation products increased more rapidly after S-ketamine CRI, compared with results after racemic ketamine CRI. The R-norketamine was eliminated faster than was the S-norketamine. Significant differences between treatments were found for the AUC of S-ketamine and within the racemic ketamine CRI for the AUC and Cmax of norketamine isomers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRI of S-ketamine may be preferable over CRI of racemic ketamine in standing equids because the S-enantiomer was eliminated faster when infused alone instead of as part of a racemic mixture.
authors: Anesthesiology Section, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern CH-3001, Switzerland.
authors: M Paula
authors: MP
authors: Larenza
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Peterbauer
authors: M Fabiana
authors: MF
authors: Landoni
authors: Olivier L
authors: OL
authors: Levionnois
authors: Urs
authors: U
authors: Schatzmann
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Spadavecchia
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Thormann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D006207:Half-Life; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007649:Ketamine; C033419:norketamine