Kinetics of salicylate elimination by anephric patients

The objectives of this research were to determine the kinetics of salicylate elimination in anephric patients and particularly to establish if these patients form the major metabolite of salicylic acid, salicyluric acid, at a normal rate. This investigation was initiated because of conflicting reports concerning the contribution of the kidneys to the formation of salicyluric acid in man. Six patients, 20-44 yr old, three of whom were anatomically anephric while the other three were physiologically anephric, received an intravenous injection of 500 mg salicylic acid (as sodium salicylate)/1.73 m(2) body surface area on an interdialysis day. Serial blood samples were obtained for 12 or 16 h after injection and the plasma was assayed for salicylic acid, salicyluric acid, total protein, albumin, and creatinine. Detailed pharmacokinetic analysis based on an open, two-compartment linear model revealed no significant differences in apparent volume of distribution and apparent first-order distribution and elimination rate constants between the anephric patients and normal adult subjects. An estimate of salicyluric acid formation rate by the anephric patients, based on the initial rate of increase of salicylurate concentrations in plasma, indicates that the metabolite is formed at a normal rate. These results suggest that the kidneys do not contribute significantly to the formation of salicyluric acid from salicylic acid in man.