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Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(8): 574-579
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273755
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Urine Concentrations of Repetitive Doses of Inhaled Salbutamol

J. Elers1 , L. Pedersen2 , J. Henninge3 , P. Hemmersbach3 , K. Dalhoff4 , V. Backer1
  • 1Bispebjerg Hospital, Respiratory Research Unit, København NV, Denmark
  • 2Bispebjerg Hospital, Respiratory and Allergy Research Unit, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
  • 3Aker University Hospital, Norwegian Doping Control Laboratory, Oslo, Norway
  • 4Bispebjerg Hospital, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, København NV, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision February 11, 2011

Publication Date:
11 May 2011 (online)

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Abstract

We examined blood and urine concentrations of repetitive doses of inhaled salbutamol in relation to the existing cut-off value used in routine doping control. We compared the concentrations in asthmatics with regular use of beta2-agonists prior to study and healthy controls with no previous use of beta2-agonists. We enrolled 10 asthmatics and 10 controls in an open-label study in which subjects inhaled repetitive doses of 400 microgram salbutamol every second hour (total 1 600 microgram), which is the permitted daily dose by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h after the first inhalations. Urine samples were collected at baseline, 0–4 h, 4–8 h, and 8–12 h after the first inhalations. Median urine concentrations peaked in the period 4–8 h after the first inhalations in the asthmatics and between 8–12 h in controls and the median ranged from 268 to 611 ng×mL−1. No samples exceeded the WADA threshold value of 1 000 ng×mL−1 when corrected for the urine specific gravity. When not corrected one sample exceeded the cut-off value with urine concentration of 1 082 ng×mL−1. In conclusion we found no differences in blood and urine concentrations between asthmatic and healthy subjects. We found high variability in urine concentrations between subjects in both groups. The variability between subjects was still present after the samples were corrected for urine specific gravity.

Key words

beta2-agonists - pharmacokinetics - doping - asthma

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Correspondence

Jimmi ElersMD 

Bispebjerg Hospital

Respiratory Research Unit

Bispebjerg Bakke 23

DK-2100 København NV

Denmark

Phone: +45/353/132 08

Fax: +45/353/121 79

Email: elers@dadlnet.dk