THE EFFECT OF RENAL IMPAIRMENT ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND METABOLISM OF BOPINDOLOL

The pharmacokinetics of the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, bopindolol, have been studied in 18 hypertensive patients with varying degrees of renal impairment following single and multiple oral dosing. Bopindolol, which undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism, was found to accumulate in patients with chronic renal failure but the disposition in patients on regular haemodialysis did not differ significantly from patients with normal renal function. The mechanism underlying these changes in pharmacokinetics is not clear but suggests the presence of metabolic inhibitors in uraemic plasma which are removed by regular haemodialysis.