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ACTIVE TUBULAR REABSORPTION 33<br />
ACTIVE TUBULAR REABSORPTION<br />
This is <strong>of</strong> minor importance for most therapeutic drugs. Uric<br />
acid is reabsorbed by an active transport system which is<br />
inhibited by uricosuric drugs, such as probenecid <strong>and</strong><br />
sulfinpyrazone. Lithium also undergoes active tubular reabsorption<br />
(hitching a ride on the proximal sodium ion transport<br />
mechanism).<br />
Key points<br />
• The kidney cannot excrete non-polar substances<br />
efficiently, since these diffuse back into blood as the<br />
urine is concentrated. Consequently, the kidney<br />
excretes polar drugs <strong>and</strong>/or the polar metabolites <strong>of</strong><br />
non-polar compounds.<br />
• Renal impairment reduces the elimination <strong>of</strong> drugs that<br />
depend on glomerular filtration, so the dose <strong>of</strong> drugs,<br />
such as digoxin, must be reduced, or the dose interval<br />
(e.g. between doses <strong>of</strong> aminoglycoside) must be<br />
increased, to avoid toxicity.<br />
• There are specific secretory mechanisms for organic<br />
acids <strong>and</strong> organic bases in the proximal tubules which<br />
lead to the efficient clearance <strong>of</strong> weak acids, such as<br />
penicillin, <strong>and</strong> weak bases, such as cimetidine.<br />
Competition for these carriers can cause drug<br />
interactions, although less commonly than induction or<br />
inhibition <strong>of</strong> cytochrome P450.<br />
• Passive reabsorption limits the efficiency with which the<br />
kidney eliminates drugs. Weak acids are best eliminated<br />
in an alkaline urine (which favours the charged form,<br />
A ), whereas weak bases are best eliminated in an acid<br />
urine (which favours the charged form, BH ).<br />
• The urine may be deliberately alkalinized by infusing<br />
sodium bicarbonate intravenously in the management<br />
<strong>of</strong> overdose with weak acids such as aspirin (see<br />
Chapter 54, to increase tubular elimination <strong>of</strong><br />
salicylate.<br />
• Lithium ions are actively reabsorbed in the proximal<br />
tubule by the same system that normally reabsorbs<br />
sodium, so salt depletion (which causes increased<br />
proximal tubular sodium ion reabsorption) causes<br />
lithium toxicity unless the dose <strong>of</strong> lithium is reduced.<br />
Case history<br />
A house <strong>of</strong>ficer (HO) sees a 53-year-old woman in the<br />
Accident <strong>and</strong> Emergency Department with a six-hour history<br />
<strong>of</strong> fevers, chills, loin pain <strong>and</strong> dysuria. She looks very ill,<br />
with a temperature <strong>of</strong> 39.5°C, blood pressure <strong>of</strong> 80/60 mmHg<br />
<strong>and</strong> right loin tenderness. The white blood cell count is<br />
raised at 15 000/μL, <strong>and</strong> there are numerous white cells <strong>and</strong><br />
rod-shaped organisms in the urine. Serum creatinine is normal<br />
at 90 μmol/L. The HO wants to start treatment with<br />
aminoglycoside antibiotic pending the availability <strong>of</strong> a bed<br />
on the intensive care unit. Despite the normal creatinine<br />
level, he is concerned that the dose may need to be adjusted<br />
<strong>and</strong> calls the resident medical <strong>of</strong>ficer for advice.<br />
Comment<br />
The HO is right to be concerned. The patient is hypotensive<br />
<strong>and</strong> will be perfusing her kidneys poorly. Serum creatinine<br />
may be normal in rapid onset acute renal failure. It is important<br />
to obtain an adequate peak concentration to combat<br />
her presumed Gram-negative septicaemia. It would therefore<br />
be appropriate to start treatment with the normal<br />
loading dose. This will achieve the usual peak concentration<br />
(since the volume <strong>of</strong> distribution will be similar to<br />
that in a healthy person). However, the subsequent <strong>and</strong><br />
maintenance doses should not be given until urgent postadministration<br />
blood concentrations have been obtained –<br />
the dosing interval may be appropriately prolonged if<br />
renal failure does indeed supervene causing reduced<br />
aminoglycoside clearance.<br />
FURTHER READING<br />
Carmichael DJS. Chapter 19.2 H<strong>and</strong>ling <strong>of</strong> drugs in kidney disease.<br />
In: AMA Davison, J Stewart Cameron, J-P Grunfeld, C Ponticelli,<br />
C Van Ypersele, E Ritz <strong>and</strong> C Winearls (eds). Oxford textbook <strong>of</strong> clinical<br />
nephrology, 3rd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005:<br />
2599–618.<br />
Eraly SA, Bush KT, Sampogna RV, Bhatnagar V, Nigam SK. The molecular<br />
pharmacology <strong>of</strong> organic anion transporters: from DNA to<br />
FDA Molecular <strong>Pharmacology</strong> 2004; 65: 479–87.<br />
Koepsell H. Polyspecific organic cation transporters: their functions<br />
<strong>and</strong> interactions with drugs. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences<br />
2004; 25: 375–81.<br />
van Montfoort JE, Hagenbuch B, Groothuis GMM, Koepsell H,<br />
Meier PJ, Meijer DKF. Drug uptake systems in liver <strong>and</strong> kidney.<br />
Current Drug Metabolism 2003; 4: 185–211.