A deconvolution method for estimating the first-pass metabolism of orally administered drugs.

A deconvolution method for estimating the first-pass metabolism of orally administered drugs is proposed. This analysis can be carried out without assuming any pharmacokinetic models. The applicability of the deconvolution method was evaluated by application to the plasma concentration-time courses of aspirin and its metabolite, salicylic acid, reconstructed from pharmacokinetic parameters for orally administered drugs. The estimated absorption profiles for aspirin and salicylic acid were in fairly good agreement with the theoretical ones, although a series of numerical calculations is involved in the procedures. The potential of the present method was also confirmed by applying it to pharmacokinetic data with random errors.