Role of maternal and fetal plasma proteins in transplacental transport of drugs
Bender, K.I.; Lutsevich, N.F.; Lutsevich, A.N.; Kupchikov, V.V.
Farmakologiia i Toksikologiia 52(4): 100-110
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-8318 PMID: 2680590 Document Number: 339382
One of the factors influencing the rate of drug transport through the placenta is their binding by maternal and fetal plasma proteins. Concentrations of the components binding the drug on both sides of the placenta influence significantly its distribution in the fetomaternal pair. It is emphasized that in plasma of a fetus or newborn there is observed the free fraction increase for most drugs--beta-adrenoblockers, local anesthetics, narcotic analgesics, antiarrthythmic and antiepileptic agents. As for salicylates, diazepam and valproic acid, one can note their accumulation in the fetal blood during labour to which side effects often observed in newborns after treatment with these drugs may be related. Free fatty acids of plasma influence the binding of drugs by maternal and fetal plasma proteins. In the published clinical papers on the drug binding by proteins of plasma of the fetomaternal pairs the transport role, in addition to serum albumin and acid alpha 1-glycoproteid, of alpha 1-fetoprotein as well is not taken into consideration. The drug transport by this protein can account for the contradiction of views on the role of maternal and fetal plasma proteins in the transplacental transport of drugs.