Roles of hepatic blood flow and enzyme activity in the kinetics of propranolol and sotalol

1 The roles of the hepatic blood flow and the drug oxidizing enzyme system in eliminating oral propranolol and sotalol were studied in twelve subjects with biopsy proven liver parenchymal disease. 2 The apparent plasma clearance of propranolol was closely related both to the in vivo (antipyrine test) and in vitro (cytochrome P-450) indices of the activity of the hepatic mixed function oxidase system. 3 Propranolol clearance had also a clear relationship to the estimated liver blood flow. Altered flow was, however, suggested to be a minor factor when compared with changes in the enzyme system. 4 The elimination rate of sotalol had no correlation to the indices of hepatic drug metabolism or to the estimated liver blood flow. 5 It is concluded that both the deteriorated sinusoidal perfusion and the decreased mass of drug metabolizing enzymes may be responsible for the impaired elimination of oral propranolol in subjects with parenchymal liver disease.