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Abstract

Detection times and screening limits (SL) are methods used to ensure that the performance of horses in equestrian sports is not altered by drugs. Drug concentration-response relationship and knowledge of concentration-time profiles in both plasma and urine are required. In this study, dexamethasone plasma and urine concentration-time profiles were investigated. Endogenous hydrocortisone plasma concentrations and their relationship to dexamethasone plasma concentrations were also explored. A single dose of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate suspension (0.03mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly to six horses. Plasma was analysed for dexamethasone and hydrocortisone and urine for dexamethasone, using UPLC-MS/MS. Dexamethasone was quantifiable in plasma for 8.3 +/- 2.9days (LLOQ: 0.025g/L) and in urine for 9.8 +/- 3.1days (LLOQ: 0.15g/L). Maximum observed dexamethasone concentration in plasma was 0.61 +/- 0.12g/L and in urine 4.2 +/- 0.9g/L. Terminal plasma half-life was 38.7 +/- 19h. Hydrocortisone was significantly suppressed for 140h. The plasma half-life of hydrocortisone was 2.7 +/- 1.3h. Dexamethasone potency, efficacy and sigmoidicity factor for hydrocortisone suppression were 0.06 +/- 0.04g/L, 0.95 +/- 0.04 and 6.2 +/- 4.6, respectively. Hydrocortisone suppression relates to the plasma concentration of dexamethasone. Thus, determination of irrelevant plasma concentrations and SL is possible. Future research will determine whether hydrocortisone suppression can be used as a biomarker of the clinical effect of dexamethasone.

Published in

Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
2015, volume: 38, number: 3, pages: 235-242

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

Cross-programme

UKÄ Subject classification

Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Other Veterinary Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.12175

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66269