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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment
Published on: December 3, 2020
Acetaminophen pharmacokinetics in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Nicole J Barshop1, Edmund V Capparelli, Claude B Sirlin
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA.
Objectives:
: The aim of the study was to evaluate UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity and the pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of acetaminophen (APAP) in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Patients And Methods:
: Twelve boys 10 to 17 years old with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 12 age- and sex-matched controls without NAFLD were recruited. Following administration of a single oral dose of APAP (5 mg/kg, maximum 325 mg), APAP and its glucuronide metabolite (APAP-G) were measured in plasma, urine, and sputum at various intervals up to 24 hours. The activity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase was estimated by the plasma ratio of APAP-G to APAP at 4 hours.
Results:
: Following administration of APAP, children with NAFLD had significantly higher concentrations of APAP-G in serum (P = 0.0071) and urine (P = 0.0210) compared with controls. No significant differences in APAP pharmacokinetics parameters were observed between the 2 groups.
Conclusions:
: APAP glucuronidation is altered in children with fatty liver disease. Despite the altered disposition of this metabolite, the pharmacokinetics of a single 5 mg/kg dose of APAP is the same in children with NAFLD as in children with normal liver function.
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