Characterization of the postglomerular renal metabolism of lepirudin in healthy volunteers.

Introduction: The anticoagulant r-hirudin lepirudin is eliminated exclusively via the kidneys. We examined the C-terminal amino acid degradation of lepirudin by the proximal kidney tubulus cells in humans as well as the antithrombotic efficacy of the metabolites and quantified the metabolite portions.

Materials And Methods: In vitro metabolites of lepirudin were produced by adding 250 microg lepirudin to urine of three healthy volunteers and a concentration of 100 ml fresh urine to 1.