A disposition kinetic study of Tramadol in bile duct ligated rats in perfused rat liver model

Tramadol hydrochloride is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic drug and is used to treat chronic pain. In this study, the effects of Bile Duct Ligation (BDL) on the pharmacokinetics of tramadol in a liver recirculating perfusion system of male rats were used. Twenty-four Wistar male rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham and two weeks BDL and four weeks BDL. Serum levels of liver enzymes were measured before perfusion and the pharmacokinetics of tramadol was evaluated by using liver recirculating perfusion system. Tramadol and metabolites concentrations were determined by HPLC-FL. The sharp increase in liver enzymes level in both BDL groups was observed and significant changes were also observed in liver weight and volume. Tramadol metabolites concentration significantly decreased compared with the control and sham group (P < 0.05). The decrease in the hepatic metabolism of tramadol and increase in the half-life of the elimination of tramadol in rats with BDL suggests that personalized treatment and the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data examination are necessary for patients with bile duct diseases and the dose of tramadol should be accordingly adjusted.