EFFECT OF GLYCOSYLATION ON CARBAMAZEPINE-SERUM PROTEIN-BINDING IN HUMANS

Effect of glycosylation on carbamazepine-serum protein binding rr as i nvestigated in vitro using the serum from 24 diabetics and 10 healthy subjects, and in vivo using the serum from 49 patients receiving carba mazepine. In both binding studies, nonglycosylated albumin levels were strongly correlated with the carbamazepine free fraction (%). To eval uate the effect of glycosylation in vivo, the patients rt ere divided into two groups according to glycosylated albumin levels (%): a health y group (10-15) and a high group (15 and over). The high group had dec reased nonglycosylated albumin levels and an increased carbamazepine f ree fraction. Our results suggest that one should not use total concen trations for the monitoring of serum carbamazepine concentrations, but free concentrations, especially in poorly controlled diabetics.