Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal
- Lungworm
- Pharmacokinetics
Abstract
ϵ-Aminocaproic acid (EACA) is a lysine analogue antifibrinolytic drug used to treat bleeding disorders in humans and domestic animals. Its use in zoological medicine is rare, and dosage is anecdotal. One possible application of EACA is to treat bleeding associated with prepatent Otostrongylus arteritis in Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) presenting to wildlife rehabilitation centers. This study used an in vitro model of hyperfibrinolysis and a thromboelastograph-based assay to estimate the therapeutic plasma concentration of EACA in elephant seals (85 μg/ml, 95% confidence interval = 73.8–96.8 μg/ml). A concurrent pharmacokinetic study of orally administered, single-dose EACA found that doses of 75 and 100 mg/kg achieved therapeutic plasma concentrations (>85 μg/ml), but the drug was rapidly eliminated and remained in the therapeutic range for only 0.4 and 1.5 hr, respectively. Models of repeated oral dosing at 100 mg/kg every 6 hr predict that therapeutic plasma concentration will be maintained for 31.7% (7.6 hr) of a 24-hr period. More frequent dosing would be required to maintain continuous therapeutic concentrations but would be impractical in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. Further pharmacodynamic studies to evaluate the duration of action of EACA in elephant seals and a prospective, placebo-controlled study are needed to determine if EACA is effective in decreasing bleeding associated with prepatent Otostrongylus arteritis and other bleeding disorders in this species.
Kaye, S., Johnson, S., Arnold, R.D., Nie, B., Davis, J.T., Gulland, F., Abou-Madi, N., Fletcher, D.J. 2016. Pharmacokinetic study of oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic acid in the Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 47(2): 438-446.
pharmacokinetics
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3-2-318-2819-2252-1600897445.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/establishing-dosing-requirements-for-an-anti-fungal-medication-in-young-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Steller sea lions\/2021\/cropped-images\/ssl-colby-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-522-282-2488-1943-1625764944.jpg","alt":"Steller sea lion Colby","title":"Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/field-anesthesia-of-juvenile-steller-sea-lions-using-inhalation-anesthesia","label":"Research Paper"}
Recent News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/stranded-gray-whale-july-2025.jpg","alt":"stranded gray whale","title":"Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/scientists-respond-to-dead-gray-whale-in-san-francisco-bay-as-species-faces-population-recovery-challenges","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-07-17 02:00:00"}
Scientists respond to dead gray whale in San Francisco Bay as species faces population recovery challenges
July 17, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}
Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}
ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
June 24, 2025
Read More