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Corticosteroid Pharmacokinetics in Liver Disease

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Summary

Among the corticosteroids, prednisone is the most commonly used in the treatment of chronic active liver disease. However, its pharmacokinetics have only recently been investigated. Prednisone is effectively absorbed and converted to its active therapeutic derivative, prednisolone, in healthy volunteers and in patients with liver disease; the bioavailability of oral prednisone approximates 100% of an intravenous dose and is comparable after administration of either prednisone or prednisolone. Patients with liver disease and hypoalbuminaemia are more likely to suffer major side effects of prednisone as a consequence of decreased protein binding and delayed clearance of prednisolone. Dosage in such patients should be reduced in accordance with serum albumin concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Unit, Instituto National de la Nutricion, Hospital de Enformedades de la Nutricion, Mexico City, Mexico

    Misael Uribe &  Vay Liang W. Go

  2. Gastroenterology Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Misael Uribe &  Vay Liang W. Go

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  1. Misael Uribe
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  2. Vay Liang W. Go
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Uribe, M., Go, V.L.W. Corticosteroid Pharmacokinetics in Liver Disease. Clin Pharmacokinet 4, 233–240 (1979). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-197904030-00005

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