4-methylpyrazole (4-MP) is effectively removed by haemodialysis in the pig model

The safety and pharmacokinetics of the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-MP have recently been evaluated and its clinical use in ethylene glycol poisoning in France is promising. The dialysability of 4-MP is not known. This is important as hemodialysis is one of the cornerstones in the treatment of (late) ethylene glycol and methanol poisonings. We therefore studied the dialysability of 4-MP in the pig model. Anesthesized pigs (maintained on respirator) given 4-MP, 10 mg/kg, served as controls (n=3) to the pigs (n=3) given 15 mg/kg and hemodialyzed for 4 h. 4-MP plasma elimination curves for both groups were compared for 12 h and dialysance data calculated. 4-MP (MW 82) was removed by the same rate as urea (MW 60) by the 0.3 m(2) dialysator, thus indicating no significant protein binding of 4-MP. The mean dialysance of 4-MP (and urea) in the three pigs were 61 (63), 51 (53) and 56 (48) ml/min, at a blood flow of 75 ml/min. The amount of 4-MP removed by hemodialysis in 4 h was 57-76 mg compared to a urinary excretion of 1-3 mg over 12 h. We conclude that the dialysablity of 4-MP is significant and this must be taken into account when these two treatment procedures are combined.