• A Kulo, K Van Calsteren, M van de Velde, N Mulabegovic, R Verbesselt, J N de Hoon, J Verhaeghe, and K Allegaert.
• Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. karel.allegaert@uzleuven.be  
• Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2014 Jan 1; 18 (5): 599-604.

ObjectivesBecause of the extensive variability in paracetamol clearance in young women, published data were pooled with newly collected observations in search of covariates of paracetamol pharmacokinetics (PK) within this specific population.Subjects And MethodsPK estimates and clinical characteristics [pregnant, weight, exposure to oral contraceptives (OC)] in young women following IV loading dose (2 g paracetamol) were pooled, using a non-compartmental linear disposition model in individual time-concentration profiles. Data were reported by median and range. Rank correlation was used to link clearance (l/h) to weight, Mann Whitney U test to compare clearance (l/h.m-2) between subgroups (pregnant, OC exposure). Finally, a multiple regression model with clearance (l/h) in all women and all non-pregnant women was performed.ResultsBased on 73 paracetamol PK estimates, a 8-fold variability in clearance (range 7.1-62.2 l/h) was documented, in part explained by a correlation (r2=0.36) between clearance (l/h) and weight. Clearance (l/h and l/h.m-2) and distribution volume (l) at delivery (n=36) were higher compared to non-pregnant observations. In non-pregnant women, women on OC (n=20) had a higher paracetamol clearance (l/h.m-2) compared to women (n=17) not on OC (p = 0.023). Weight (p = 0.0043) and pregnancy (p = 0.02) were independent variables (r=0.56) of paracetamol clearance (l/h). In non-pregnant women, weight (p = 0.009) and OC exposure (p = 0.03) were independent variables (r=0.51).ConclusionsWeight, pregnancy and OC result in higher clearance of IV paracetamol in young women. Besides compound specific relevance, these findings also unveil covariates of drug metabolism in young women.

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