Abstract

Objective: Reports characterizing the pharmacokinetics of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) using compartmental approaches have suggested that the absorption of FP into the systemic circulation is rapid with a half-life of approximately 10 min. We believe that this is a classical case of misassignment of the pharmacokinetic parameter estimates, a problem often encountered while modeling pharmacokinetic data. The objective of this study was to illustrate and analyze this problem using actual blood level data of FP obtained in 14 healthy subjects. Materials and methods: Serum concentration-time data of FP were obtained from a double-blind, randomized study involving single and multiple twice-daily inhalations of 500 mg via a dry powder device, Diskus®. The profiles were fitted using one- and two-compartment pharmacokinetic models with first order absorption. Various permutations of the resulting exponential rate constants were analyzed to determine the combination that was most consistent with the underlying physical process. Results: The two-compartment body model with first order absorption gave excellent fits for the observed FP concentrations after both single and multiple dosing. Even though peak levels were reached relatively early (30 – 90 min) after inhalation, the combination that most appropriately described the underlying process was a > Ka > b, i.e. slow absorption, rapid distribution and slower elimination kinetics. The absorption, distribution and elimination half-lives resulted to be 3.8 h, 9.9 min and 13.6 h, respectively, consistent with the high lipophilicity and sustained dissolution characteristics observed in vitro. Conclusions: Analysis of FP pharmacokinetics after inhalation represents a classical case of potential misassignment of the exponential rate constants, which if ignored, could lead to erroneous interpretations regarding the underlying process. The study also elucidates the pitfall of using tmax to calculate absorption rate.

Author Details

Authors

• S. Krishnaswami¹,²
• G. Hochhaus¹
• H. Möllmann³
• J. Barth⁴
• H. Derendorf¹

Departments

• ¹ Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
• ² Pfizer Global R&D, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,
  
• ³ University of Bochum and
• ⁴ Clinic Bergmannstrost, Halle, Germany

Address

H. Derendorf, Ph.D
P.O.Box 100494
Dept. of Pharmaceutics,
College of Pharmacy
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32610-0494, USA
Email: [email protected]

Citation