Chiral inversion of R-(-) Fenoprofen enantiomer in cats with toxic hepatic disease

Abstract

The 2-arylpropionic acids (2-APA) or profens, is a family of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamatory Drug (NSAIDS), widely used in human and veterinary medicine for the treatment of the arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders and hyperthermia. The molecule of fenoprofen (FPF), a member of the familiy of 2-APA, contains an asymetric carbon atom and exists as two enantiomeric forms, R-(-) fenoprofen and S-(+) fenoprofen . The R-(-) FPF enantiomer is metabolically inverted to their optic antipode, the S-(+) FPF enantiomer as result of the action of a metabolic pathway known as chiral inversion. The liver is the principal site for the 2-APA biotransformation. Severe hepatic disease should alter the percentage of chiral inversion obtained for R-(-) FPF. To test this hypothesis we studied the chiral inversion of R-(-) FPF in cats with toxic hepatic disease (THD) induced by carbon tethrachloride (CCl4). The percentage of chiral inversion in animals with THD was 90.5±21.1 (mean±sd) and the difference with healthy animals was not statistically significant.