Objective: Our objective was to study the enantioselective pharmacokinetics of metoprolol in CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizers (UM) compared with extensive (EM) and poor (PM) metabolizers to quantify differential effects of metoprolol enantiomers on the beta1-adrenoreceptor blockade.
Methods: Twenty-nine healthy individuals were selected based on their CYP2D6 genotype, and 100 mg racemic metoprolol was administered. Plasma concentrations of R- and S-metoprolol and the metabolites SS-, SR-, RS-, and RR-hydroxymetoprolol were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results: Mean (+/-SD) AUCs of S-metoprolol were 190 +/- 99 ng/ml x h in UMs, 366 +/- 158 in EMs, and 1,804 +/- 300 in PMs. For R-metoprolol, the AUCs were 127 +/- 72 ng/ml x h in UMs, 261 +/- 126 in EMs, and 1,746 +/- 319 in PMs. The concentrations of R-metoprolol and S-metoprolol, respectively, needed to obtain a half-maximum reduction in heart rate were estimated as 20 and 21 ng/ml in PMs, 11 and 17 ng/ml in EMs, and 7 and 11 ng/ml in UMs.
Conclusion: A slight enantiopreference towards metabolism of R-metoprolol by CYP2D6 was observed in EMs and even more in the UM group, but the effect was far from being enantioselective.