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Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(4): 252-257
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-39506
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modelling of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Athletes

E.  Varlet-Marie1, 4 , A.  Gaudard1, 4 , M.  Audran2 , R.  Gomeni1, 3 , F.  Bressolle1
  • 1Laboratoire de Pharmacocinétique Clinique, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Montpellier I, France
  • 2Laboratoire de Biophysique, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Montpellier I, France
  • 3Present address: GlaxoSmithKline, Verona, Italy
  • 4E. V-M. and A.G. have equally contributed to this work and should both be considered as first authors
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: November 30, 2002

Publication Date:
04 June 2003 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a pharmacokinetic model that takes into account the negative feedback loop of endogenous erythropoietin production observed after repeated recombinant human erythropoietin administration. A pharmacodynamic data analysis was performed using the changes in i) reticulocyte count, ii) serum levels of soluble transferrin receptors, and iii) soluble transferrin receptors/serum proteins ratio as an index of the therapeutic effect of the hormone. Nine athletes were included in the study; they received repeated subcutaneous administrations (50 IU × kg-1per day) of recombinant human erythropoietin. The mean half-life of the terminal part of the curve was 35.5 h, and the total clearance was 17 ml × h-1 × kg-1. The total clearance was about two times higher in athletes than in untrained subjects (5.5 - 7.5 ml × h-1 × kg-1) and the half-life period of plasma erythropoietin after subcutaneous administration was five times longer compared to intravenous administration (4 to 7 h). Thus, after subcutaneous administration, the terminal part of the curve should correspond to the absorption phase, instead of to the elimination phase (flip-flop phenomenon). The pharmacodynamic relationship based on a sigmoid E max model can be reasonably used to relate the changes observed in the markers to recombinant human erythropoietin administration. Recombinant human erythropoietin induces a delayed increase in reticulocytosis and in soluble transferrin receptor levels. In comparison with baseline, the increase of these markers became significant from the third and the tenth day after the initial administration of the hormone, respectively. These results were in accordance with the equilibration delay computed from the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic data modelling (half-life of 25.7 h and 10 days, respectively). The recombinant hormone was well tolerated during this study.

Key words

Erythropoietin abuse - repeated subcutaneous administrations - negative feedback loop - indirect detection

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Dr. F. Bressolle, Ph D

Laboratoire de Pharmacocinétique Clinique

Faculté de Pharmacie · BP 14491 · 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5 · France ·

Phone: (33) 4 67 54 80 75

Fax: (33) 4 67 79 32 92

Email: Fbressolle@aol.com

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