Pharmacokinetics of ramipril in hypertensive patients with renal insufficiency

Summary

In an open trial, the pharmacokinetics of ramipril and its active metabolite ramiprilat were studied in 25 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency given 5 mg ramipril p.o. for 14 days.

Ramipril was rapidly absorbed and reached a peak concentration after 1–2 h. C_max was greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency, which might indicate a reduced renal elimination rate, although, the rapid decline of the concentration-time curve for ramipril was almost independent of renal function. The mean initial apparent half-lives on Days 1 and 12, respectively, were 2.8 and 3.4 h (Group I: creatinine clearance 5–15 ml/min), 1.8 and 2.3 h (Group II: creatinine clearance 15–40 ml/min), and 1.9 and 1.9 h (Group III: creatinine clearance 40–80 ml/min). No accumulation was observed after multiple dosing.

In contrast, the kinetics of its active acid metabolite ramiprilat was significantly influenced by renal function. The mean times to the peak plasma concentration were 5.7 h in Group I, 4.4 h in Group II and 3.8 h in Group III. The initial decline in plasma ramiprilat was dependent upon renal function; the mean initial apparent half-lives (Days 1 and 12, respectively) were 16.0 and 14.8 h (Group I), 10.1 and 9.5 h (Group II) and 10.6 and 8.0 h (Group III). Mean trough concentrations and absolute accumulation also increased with worsening renal function, and the renal clearance of ramiprilat was significantly correlated with the creatinine clearance. The subsequent long terminal phase at low plasma ramiprilat concentrations represented slow dissociation of the ACE-inhibitor complex.

The study indicates that in patients with severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min) smaller doses of ramipril are required than in patients with normal or borderline renal function.