Pharmacokinetics and Hemostatic Effects of Saruplase in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Comparison of Infusion, Single-Bolus, and Split-Bolus Administration

Abstract

Saruplase, or unglycosylated, single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) selectively activates fibrin-bound plasminogen, and is subsequently converted to its two-chain derivative tcu-PA (urokinase) by plasmin. The efficacy of a 20 mg IV bolus followed by an infusion of 60 mg over 1 hour (standard regimen) has been demonstrated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The Bolus Administration of Saruplase in Europe (BASE) study compared the efficacy of standard therapy, single bolus (80 mg), and split bolus (2 × 40 mg at 30-minute intervals) in AMI. In a substudy of BASE, the pharmacokinetics of total u-PA activity (amidolytic activity after plasmin treatment), high molecular weight (HMW) u-PA antigen, and tcu-PA activity were compared in patients receiving standard therapy (n = 4), single bolus (n = 4), or split bolus (n = 5). Total u-PA activity and HMW u-PA antigen were similar. The maximum concentration (C_max,, mean ± SD) of total u-PA activity was 2.2 ± 0.3 µg/mL after standard therapy, 16.3 ± 3.9 µg/mL after single bolus, and 8.2 ± 1.6 ug/mL after split bolus. The area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) values of total u-PA activity were 1.7 ± 0.1 µg/mL*h (standard therapy), 4.0 ± 0.9 µg/mL*h (bolus), and 3.0 ± 0.7 µg/mL*h (split bolus). The dominant initial half-lives (t^1/2 α) were 7.1 ± 1.1 minutes (standard), 8.8 ± 0.8 minutes (bolus), and 5.1 ± 2.1 minutes (split bolus). Maximum plasma concentrations of of tcu-PA activity were observed at 5.2 ± 7 minutes (standard), 21 ± 10 minutes (bolus), and 42 ± 2 minutes (split bolus). C_max was lowest after standard therapy (0.6 ± 0.3 µg/mL), highest after bolus (4.2 ± 2.2 µg/mL), and approximately twice as high as standard therapy after split bolus (1.3 ± 0.8 µg/mL). After standard therapy the mean fibrinogen concentration decreased gradually from approximately 300 mg/dL to 70 mg/dL at 90 and 120 minutes. After a single bolus the fibrinogen concentration decreased below the limit of quantification within 30 minutes and remained there for at least 120 minutes. Directly after the second 40 mg dose of the split bolus, the fibrinogen levels had an accelerated and more pronounced decrease to approximately 65 mg/dL at 90 and 120 minutes. A single bolus results in very high early total u-PA activity, which accelerates the appearance of tcu-PA activity and fibrinogen consumption. The pharmacokinetics and hemostatic effects of the split-bolus regimen are more comparable with those of standard therapy.