Drug Distribution Flashcards
What are the factors which affect drug distribution once they are absorbed into the blood stream?
- Cardiac output and blood flow (e.g. fat does not get much blood flow, so drug will not distribute there very fast)
- Plasma protein binding (drug that is bound to plasma proteins will remain within the plasma)
- Lipid solubility (hydrophobic molecules will pass across membrane more easily)
- Degree of drug ionisation (charged molecules will not readily pass across membrane)
- pH of compartments (most drugs weak acids or bases so their charge will vary on the pH of the compartment)
- Capillary permeability
Which factors affecting drug distribution also affected extent of drug absorption ?
- Lipid solubility
- Degree of drug ionisation
- pH of compartments
What is the cardiac output to the kidney ? The blood flow to it ?
20% of CO
450 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the cardiac output to the liver ? The blood flow to it ?
10% of CO
25 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the cardiac output to the heart ? The blood flow to it ?
4% of CO
70 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the cardiac output to the brain ? The blood flow to it ?
13% of CO
55 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the cardiac output to the skeletal muscles ? The blood flow to it ?
20% of CO
3 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the cardiac output to the fat ? The blood flow to it ?
2% of CO
1 ml/min/100g tissue
What is the main factor affecting initial rate of distribution of drugs ? Give an example of a tissue which would initially receive low distribution of blood due to this factor.
Blood flow (for hydrophobic drugs) and diffusion characteristics of the drug (for hydrophilic drugs)
Blood flow to fat
What is the predominate plasma binding protein ? What is its concentration in blood ?
Albumin
40 g/L
How do drugs bind to albumin ?
- Lipid-soluble drugs bind non-specifically (around surface of it)
- Weak acids bind to a specific, saturable site (limited amount of capacity on albumin to bind a weak acid)
Give a clinical example as to why binding of drugs to albumin might be significant.
If 2 drugs competing as 2 weak acids, one with greater affinity for albumin will dislodge the other (so higher free concentration of the dislodged drug).
For instance, aspirin will dislodge warfarin from albumin, allowing free warfarin concentration to rise from 1% in the blood in normal conditions, to 2-3%.
What are possible reasons for albumin levels in the blood to rise or decrease ? What is the result of each of these on free drug levels.
Hyperalbuminemia: Due to dehydration (decreases free drug levels)
Hypoalbuminemia: Due to burns, renal disease (causing proteinuria), hepatic disease (because liver makes albumin), malnutrition (increases free drug levels)
What are some factors which affect the degree of binding of drugs with albumin ?
- Temperature
- pH
- Drug interactions
Why is it a problem to lose albumin (separate from drug-binding issues) ?
Because albumin contributes to oncotic pressure