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Lamotrigine and its N2-glucuronide during pregnancy : The significance of renal clearance and estradiol

Reimers, Arne LU ; Helde, Grethe ; Bråthen, Geir and Brodtkorb, Eylert (2011) In Epilepsy Research 94(3). p.198-205
Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the physiological mechanisms behind the pronounced decline of lamotrigine (LTG) serum concentrations during pregnancy. Methods: Serum and urine concentrations of LTG and its main metabolite, LTG-N2-glucuronide (LTG-GLUC), were measured monthly in 21 pregnancies of 19 women using LTG. Simultaneously, a panel of biochemical variables was monitored to evaluate liver and kidney function and possible hemodilution effects. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated once at baseline and once in gestational month 8. Results: Initially, LTG and LTG-GLUC serum concentrations fell simultaneously by 27% and 38%, respectively (gestational month 2). Subsequently, the ratio of the LTG-GLUC/LTG serum concentrations increased... (More)

Purpose: To investigate the physiological mechanisms behind the pronounced decline of lamotrigine (LTG) serum concentrations during pregnancy. Methods: Serum and urine concentrations of LTG and its main metabolite, LTG-N2-glucuronide (LTG-GLUC), were measured monthly in 21 pregnancies of 19 women using LTG. Simultaneously, a panel of biochemical variables was monitored to evaluate liver and kidney function and possible hemodilution effects. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated once at baseline and once in gestational month 8. Results: Initially, LTG and LTG-GLUC serum concentrations fell simultaneously by 27% and 38%, respectively (gestational month 2). Subsequently, the ratio of the LTG-GLUC/LTG serum concentrations increased gradually, correlating strongly with rising serum estradiol concentrations. In gestational month 8, the ratio was 164% higher than at baseline. At that time, LTG total clearance had increased by 118%, and the amount of unchanged LTG in urine had dropped by 40% while the amount of LTG-GLUC had increased by a corresponding 37%. Conclusions: The simultaneous decline of LTG and LTG-GLUC serum concentrations in early pregnancy suggests that in this phase, increased renal blood flow is the major cause. After gestational month 2, estradiol-induced glucuronidation of LTG becomes more important, leading to a further fall of LTG serum concentrations and a gradual rise of the LTG-GLUC/LTG-ratio through the remaining pregnancy. An expanded volume of distribution may also contribute to reduced LTG serum concentrations in pregnancy.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Estradiol, Glucuronide, Lamotrigine, Pregnancy, Renal clearance, UGT1A4
in
Epilepsy Research
volume
94
issue
3
pages
198 - 205
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:21356585
  • scopus:79955524916
ISSN
0920-1211
DOI
10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.02.002
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8387161b-7486-498e-ba99-1c0a6872e51f
date added to LUP
2024-08-31 14:51:08
date last changed
2024-09-02 13:02:08
@article{8387161b-7486-498e-ba99-1c0a6872e51f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: To investigate the physiological mechanisms behind the pronounced decline of lamotrigine (LTG) serum concentrations during pregnancy. Methods: Serum and urine concentrations of LTG and its main metabolite, LTG-N2-glucuronide (LTG-GLUC), were measured monthly in 21 pregnancies of 19 women using LTG. Simultaneously, a panel of biochemical variables was monitored to evaluate liver and kidney function and possible hemodilution effects. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated once at baseline and once in gestational month 8. Results: Initially, LTG and LTG-GLUC serum concentrations fell simultaneously by 27% and 38%, respectively (gestational month 2). Subsequently, the ratio of the LTG-GLUC/LTG serum concentrations increased gradually, correlating strongly with rising serum estradiol concentrations. In gestational month 8, the ratio was 164% higher than at baseline. At that time, LTG total clearance had increased by 118%, and the amount of unchanged LTG in urine had dropped by 40% while the amount of LTG-GLUC had increased by a corresponding 37%. Conclusions: The simultaneous decline of LTG and LTG-GLUC serum concentrations in early pregnancy suggests that in this phase, increased renal blood flow is the major cause. After gestational month 2, estradiol-induced glucuronidation of LTG becomes more important, leading to a further fall of LTG serum concentrations and a gradual rise of the LTG-GLUC/LTG-ratio through the remaining pregnancy. An expanded volume of distribution may also contribute to reduced LTG serum concentrations in pregnancy.</p>}},
  author       = {{Reimers, Arne and Helde, Grethe and Bråthen, Geir and Brodtkorb, Eylert}},
  issn         = {{0920-1211}},
  keywords     = {{Estradiol; Glucuronide; Lamotrigine; Pregnancy; Renal clearance; UGT1A4}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{198--205}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Epilepsy Research}},
  title        = {{Lamotrigine and its N2-glucuronide during pregnancy : The significance of renal clearance and estradiol}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.02.002}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.02.002}},
  volume       = {{94}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}