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Changes in protein binding during disease

Insights

Disease states significantly impact antimicrobial protein binding through altered serum protein levels or accumulated compounds like bilirubin and free fatty acids (FFA). These changes affect drug distribution and assay results.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Disease states can alter antimicrobial protein binding.
  • This alteration is due to changes in serum protein concentration or accumulation of endogenous compounds like bilirubin and free fatty acids (FFA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how disease states affect antimicrobial protein binding.
  • To understand the impact of altered protein concentrations and endogenous compounds on drug-protein interactions.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies involving addition of bilirubin and FFA to normal serum.
  • Analysis of patient sera from individuals with hyperbilirubinemia and during heparin administration.
  • Investigation of antimicrobial binding in uremic patient sera.

Main Results:

  • Marked reduction in antimicrobial binding occurs only at extremely low albumin levels (<2.5 m/100 ml).
  • High concentrations of bilirubin and FFA reduce binding of most antimicrobials in vitro.
  • Some antibiotics show enhanced binding at lower FFA concentrations, potentially via allosteric mechanisms.
  • Reduced binding in uremia may involve an unknown endogenous inhibitor.
  • In vitro findings are corroborated by in vivo patient data.

Conclusions:

  • Disease-induced alterations in serum proteins and endogenous compounds significantly affect antimicrobial protein binding.
  • These changes can influence drug distribution and the accuracy of microbiologic assays.
  • Further research is needed to identify the endogenous inhibitor present in uremia.

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