Quantifying hepatic function in the presence of liver disease with phenazone (antipyrine) and its metabolites

• Published in: Clinical pharmacokinetics Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 50
• Main Authors: St Peter, J V, Awni, W M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.1991
• Subjects: Antipyrine - pharmacokinetics; Humans; Liver - metabolism; Liver Diseases - metabolism; Liver Function Tests - methods
• ISSN: 0312-5963; 1179-1926
• DOI: 10.2165/00003088-199120010-00004

The disposition of phenazone (antipyrine), a low extraction compound with low protein binding, is known to be altered in the presence of various types of hepatic dysfunction. As such, its pharmacokinetics may be useful in the objective characterisation of altered liver function. Understanding the known effects of various liver disease states upon the disposition of this probe may provide insight into future applications. This article provides a review of background information about normal plasma phenazone pharmacokinetics, urinary metabolite disposition and tabulations of reported total body clearances of the drug in the presence of cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis and cholestasis in humans. An estimate is made of the sensitivity and specificity of phenazone testing for the verification of the presence of cirrhosis based on this compiled literature.