Increased plasma protein binding of propranolol in rabbits with acute renal failure

Abstract

Acute renal failure was produced in rabbits either by uranyl nitrate or by glycerol. Uremia ensued in all uranyl nitrate treated animals and in the majority of glycerol treated animals. In the uremic rabbits binding of phenytoin to plasma proteins decreased with respect to treated non-uremic animals and controls. On the other hand binding of propranolol markedly increased in uremia. The increased propranolol binding was not due to the elevated creatinine and urea levels in uremic plasma. Charcoal treatment of uremic plasma did not restore normal propranolol binding. The findings indicate that the influence of renal failure on binding of drugs to plasma proteins is more complex than hitherto assumed.