In the well-stirred model, when intrinsic clearance is very high relative to hepatic blood flow, hepatic clearance approaches which value?

Prepare thoroughly for the MDC Pharmacokinetics Exam with our detailed guidance. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to excel in your test!

Multiple Choice

In the well-stirred model, when intrinsic clearance is very high relative to hepatic blood flow, hepatic clearance approaches which value?

Explanation:
In the well-stirred model, hepatic clearance is described by CLh = (Q × fu × CLint) / (Q + fu × CLint). When intrinsic clearance (fu × CLint) is much larger than hepatic blood flow (Q), the term fu × CLint dominates the denominator, so CLh ≈ Q × fu × CLint / fu × CLint = Q. This means the liver can’t clear faster than blood arrives, making clearance limited by perfusion. The extraction ratio approaches 1 in this scenario. So hepatic clearance approaches the hepatic blood flow.

In the well-stirred model, hepatic clearance is described by CLh = (Q × fu × CLint) / (Q + fu × CLint). When intrinsic clearance (fu × CLint) is much larger than hepatic blood flow (Q), the term fu × CLint dominates the denominator, so CLh ≈ Q × fu × CLint / fu × CLint = Q. This means the liver can’t clear faster than blood arrives, making clearance limited by perfusion. The extraction ratio approaches 1 in this scenario. So hepatic clearance approaches the hepatic blood flow.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy