This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

Pharmacokinetics of pimobendan and its metabolite o-desmethyl-pimobendan following rectal administration to healthy dogs

Date

2020-06-29

Author

Her, Jiwoong

Type of Degree

Master's Thesis

Department

General Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Pimobendan, a benzimidazole-pyridazinone derivative, is an inodilator that is used for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs. Pharmacokinetics of pimobendan and its active metabolite o-desmethyl pimobendan (ODMP) were prospectively characterized in eight healthy dogs using a randomized, crossover design with a 24-h washout after a single dose of pimobendan (0.5 mg/kg) administered either per rectum (PR) or per os (PO). Plasma PIM and ODMP were quantitated using high performance liquid chromatography using an assay validated in dogs. Data were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Pimobendan PR was more rapidly absorbed [time to maximum concentration (Tmax) 1 ± 0.4 h] than PO (2.1 ± 0.9 h). Pimobendan was rapidly converted to ODMP within minutes after both PO and PR administrations. Plasma PIM and ODMP concentrations from pimobendan PR were found to be comparatively low at all time points compared to pimobendan PO. Pimobendan PR resulted in significantly lower Cmax (PIM 10.1 ± 2 ng/mL, ODMP 8.8 ± 4.8 ng/mL) than pimobendan PO (PIM 49.1 ± 28.7 ng/mL, ODMP 30.9 ± 10.4 ng/mL). Relative bioavailability (%) of PIM and ODMP after rectal dosing was 25 ± 8 and 28 ± 6, respectively. Pimobendan PR was well tolerated by study dogs. Findings suggest that pimobendan PR might achieve effective concentrations and as such warrant future studies of clinical effectiveness in treating dogs with congestive heart failure who are unable to receive medication PO.