Open AccessVariations of serum concentrations and half‐life of salicylate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Paulus Harold E.,
Siegel Mark,
Mongan Edward,
Okun Ronald,
Calabro John J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780140412
Subject(s) - aspirin , rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , body weight , arthritis , gastroenterology , pharmacology
Unlike most drugs the half‐life of salicylates in the serum of human subjects increases as its concentration increases; this observation was confirmed in nine hospitalized patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received the same weight‐adjusted dose of aspirin. They showed marked variations in the maximum salicylate concentrations attained. A relatively small increase in dose resulted in a large increase in serum level. Therefore, optimum intensive salicylate therapy can be achieved only by individualizing the dose of aspirin.