RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Biotransformation of fluvastatin sodium in humans. JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 567 OP 572 VO 21 IS 4 A1 Dain, J G A1 Fu, E A1 Gorski, J A1 Nicoletti, J A1 Scallen, T J YR 1993 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/21/4/567.abstract AB The metabolic pathways of fluvastatin sodium (FV; Lescol, Sandoz compound XU 62-320), [R*,S*-(E)]-(+-)-sodium-3,5-dihydroxy-7-[3- (4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1-methylethyl)-1H-indole-2-yl]-hept-6-enoate, a potent inhibitor of hydroxy-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase)--the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis--were determined in normal male volunteers at steady state. The metabolite profiles were determined in pooled human blood/plasma, urine, and feces obtained from healthy male volunteers after a single dose of 2 and 10 mg of [3H]FV and at steady state after a single 40 mg daily dose of [3H]FV for 6 sequential days utilizing HPLC coupled with radioactivity monitoring. The two major components in plasma were FV and the desisopropylpropionic acid (4) derivative of FV, the latter a result of oxidative removal of the N-isopropyl group and beta-oxidation of the side chain. Minor amounts of the 4,5-pentenoic acid derivative of FV, the threo-isomer of FV, the trans-lactone of FV, and conjugates of 5-hydroxy FV and 6-hydroxy FV were also present in plasma. Parent FV was not present in feces, the major excretory route, or in urine. In urine, 4 and conjugates of 5-hydroxy FV, and 6-hydroxy FV were present, and each represented < 1% of the dose. In feces 5-hydroxy FV, 6-hydroxy FV, and desisopropyl-FV represented the only peaks of significance. The metabolism of FV leading to the 5-hydroxy FV and 6-hydroxy FV was not stereospecific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)