Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the steady-state serum phenytoin/hydroxyphenytoin ratio.

The effect of nonlinear kinetics on the steady-state ratio of serum phenytoin (PHT) to total 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (p-HPPH) was studied in epileptic patients. In each patient, the ratio increased in a nonlinear fashion in relation to both the PHT dose and the PHT serum level. Patients with longer apparent PHT half-lives (t50%) had a higher PHT/p-HPPH ratio. The t50% was either measured directly and found to correlate well with the patient's calculated Michaelis-Menten parameters (Vmax and Km), or was calculated from Vmax and Km values. A close linear correlation was found between the steady-state PHT/p-HPPH ratio and t50% values, interindividually and intraindividually, i.e., as the t50% increased with increasing PHT concentration in a given patient, the PHT/p-HPPH ratio increased in the same proportion. This indicates a good correlation between the overall Michaelis-Menten kinetics of PHT elimination and the PHT/p-HPPH ratio. A close linear correlation between a wide range of PHT doses and steady-state serum total p-HPPH levels was found, suggesting that when the PHT dose is lower than Vmax, the fraction of PHT undergoing parahydroxylation is constant. It is concluded that if, in a given patient, the p-HPPH level corresponds to the value expected from the PHT dose, it can be assumed that compliance and bioavailability are adequate and that the dose does not exceed Vmax. In that case, the PHT/p-HPPH ratio will provide a good estimate of the t50% of PHT at that particular PHT level.