Selective effect of adjuvant arthritis on the disposition of propranolol enantiomers in rats detected using a stereospecific HPLC assay.

Nonstereospecific studies have indicated that the pharmacokinetics of propranolol (PR) are altered in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. However, as the kinetics and dynamics of PR are stereoselective, we examined the effect of adjuvant arthritis (AA) on the disposition of the individual enantiomers. A novel normal-phase stereospecific HPLC assay for PR was developed involving chiral derivatization with S-(naphthyl)ethyl isocyanate and fluorescence detection. Oral and iv doses of racemic PR were administered to control and AA rats (n = 6). AA had no significant effect on either clearance or S:R ratio after iv doses. On the other hand, after oral doses, clearance was significantly decreased in AA. Although significant for both enantiomers, this effect was more pronounced on the less active R-enantiomer. The AUC R:S ratio was, therefore, significantly altered (AA, 14 +/- 3.0; control, 4.3 +/- 1.2). Increased total (S+R) plasma concentrations of PR in AA, possibly due to a reduced intrinsic clearance, therefore, reflect mainly increased concentrations of the less active R-enantiomer.