Kinetics of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

HE kinetic aspects of drug absorption, distriTbution, metabolism, and excretion have not been previously reviewed in the English language. Two discussions or reviews on the subject have been included in German publications. One of these constituted one issue of Die Pharmazie (1) and was prepared by Druckrey and Kupfmuller. The other is included in a book written by Dost (2). Dost’s bibliography on kinetic and related topics is extensive. More than two decades ago, Teorell published two papers in the English language which were a theoretical treatment of the kinetic consideration under discussion here (3). Some of the literature existing on the subject a t that time, as well as literature on kinetics of some physiological substances, was briefly reviewed in these papers. Relatively recently, Robertson published an extensive review on the theory and use of isotopes in the determination transfer rates (4). In Robertson’s review, work with physiological substances was of primary interest ( 3 ) . The same is true in the rather extensive papers published by Russell ( 5 ) and by Odeblad, Westin, and Englund ((j). Although not concerned with drugs, many fundamental principles of elimina-