Buprenorphine plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations in osteoarthritis patients during low-dose transdermal patch dosing

MethodsFifty-six (56) patients scheduled for arthroplasty, received 7-day extended-release buprenorphine transdermal patches (5 mu g/h) for five consecutive weeks, starting two weeks prior to the surgery. Simultaneous plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected during spinal anesthesia.ResultsMedian buprenorphine plasma and CSF concentrations at steady-state were 54 pg/mL (range 8.6 - 167 pg/mL) and 1.6 pg/mL (0.30 - 7.3 pg/mL), respectively. The median CSF/plasma -ratio was 3% (range 0.35 - 16%). Large between-subject variability was observed in the measured buprenorphine concentrations within the study population.

Automated summary

This study investigated the concentrations of buprenorphine in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients undergoing arthroplasty. The results showed a large between-subject variability in buprenorphine concentrations in both plasma and CSF.