(1) Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Royal Bath Hospital, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England;(2) Rheumatism Research Unit, University Department of Medicine, General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Abstract:
Summary The pharmacokinetics of prednisolone elimination have been studied in both arthritic patients and normal volunteers using tritiated prednisolone alone, and in conjunction with unlabelled prednisolone in doses of 0.15 mg·kg–1 and 0.3 mg·kg–1 body weight. With increasing dose there is prolongation of the plasma half-life and increase in the volume of distribution and plasma clearance of prednisolone. It is proposed that these changes in pharmacokinetic parameters may be associated with non-linear binding of the steroid to plasma proteins.