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The role of the liver in theophylline elimination

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Abstract

Theophylline is believed to be largely eliminated from the body by biotransformation in the liver. Using a hepatectomized dog model, we quantitatively assessed the role of the liver in theophylline elimination. The elimination half-life (t½(β)) increased 348% from 9.82±2.39 h in the control group to 43.99±43.53 h in the hepatectomized group of dogs. The serum clearance (Cl(S)) decreased 70% from 0.060±0.017 l/kg/h in the control group to 0.018±0.009 l/kg/h in the hepatectomized group. The volume of distribution (Vd(β)) decreased 10% from 0.81±0.09 l/kg in the control group to 0.73±0.07 l/kg in the hepatectomy group. The mean protein binding of theophylline in dog serum of 9% is low compared to 53–65% in man. In man and the dog, the serum clearance of theophylline is a reasonable reflection of hepatic clearance. Despite the absence of hepatic clearance in the hepatectomized dog, elimination of theophylline continues to a degree.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Physiology, and Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1100 West Michigan Street, 46223, Indianapolis, IN

    R. E. Brashear, R. L. Nelson, M. R. Glick, T. O. Oei & R. E. DeAtley

  2. the Lilly Laboratory for Clinical Research, Indianapolis, USA

    R. E. Brashear, R. L. Nelson, M. R. Glick, T. O. Oei & R. E. DeAtley

Authors
  1. R. E. Brashear
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  2. R. L. Nelson
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  3. M. R. Glick
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  4. T. O. Oei
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  5. R. E. DeAtley
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Brashear, R.E., Nelson, R.L., Glick, M.R. et al. The role of the liver in theophylline elimination. Lung 158, 101–109 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02713709

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