Inhibitory effect of free fatty acids on plasma protein binding of disopyramide in haemodialysis patients

Summary The plasma (or serum) protein binding of disopyramide (DSP) in five haemodialysis patients was studied using an ultrafiltration technique. There was an increase in the free fraction of DSP in the plasma on dialysis days in comparison to the levels on interdialysis days, which was associated with an elevation of the free fatty acid levels in the plasma together with the increase of the free fraction of DSP. The inhibitory effect of free fatty acids on DSP binding in an in vitro study was enhanced in proportion to their concentrations, and was shown to be due to competition at one binding site by experiments with oleic acid as a representative displacer. Certain endogenous organic acids, such as indoxyl sulphate, 2-hydroxyhippuric acid and hippuric acid, which are characteristically elevated in chronic renal failure, scarcely affected the protein binding of DSP. The findings indicate that free DSP should be monitored in patients with elevated plasma free fatty acid levels, such as those on haemodialysis therapy.