Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal

Pharmacokinetic study of oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic acid in the Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris)

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.

Read the full research paper

Related Publications

See All 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"}

Research Paper

Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions

{"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"}

Research Paper

Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia

{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/barrens-hs-photo-by-clive-beavis-c-the-marine-mammal-center-92-0-1270-992-1766172380.jpg","alt":"Pacific harbor seal","title":"Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/population-pharmacokinetics-of-a-single-oral-dose-of-gabapentin-identifies-rapid-plasma-clearance-in-rehabilitated-pacific-harbor-seal-pups","label":"Research Paper"}

Research Paper

Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups

{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2025\/kickstart16498photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Meloxicam may induce nephrotoxicity in California sea lions with chronic domoic acid toxicosis","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/meloxicam-may-induce-nephrotoxicity-in-california-sea-lions-with-chronic-domoic-acid-toxicosis","label":"Research Paper"}

Research Paper

Meloxicam may induce nephrotoxicity in California sea lions with chronic domoic acid toxicosis

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/cropped-images\/wild-es-ano-nuevo-photo-by-clive-beavis-159-0-1270-992-1772151576.jpg","alt":"wild northern elephant seal at ano nuevo state park","title":"Avian Influenza Confirmed in Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/avian-influenza-confirmed-in-northern-elephant-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2026-02-26 01:00:00"}

News Update

Avian Influenza Confirmed in Northern Elephant Seals

February 26, 2026

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/two-gray-whales-golden-gate-bridge-shutterstock-0-0-1270-992-1770234810.jpg","alt":"two gray whales under the Golden Gate Bridge","title":"The Marine Mammal Center and San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee Pilot New Vessel Operator Training Program","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-and-san-francisco-harbor-safety-committee-pilot-new-vessel-operator-training-program","label":"Press Release","date":"2026-02-06 01:00:00"}

Press Release

The Marine Mammal Center and San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee Pilot New Vessel Operator Training Program

February 6, 2026

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Bottlenose dolphin\/cropped-images\/dolphinphoto-by-adam-li-c-noaa-0-0-1270-992-1769539954.jpg","alt":"A bottlenose dolphin jumps out of the water.","title":"What\u2019s the Difference Between Dolphins and Porpoises? And Other Animal Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/whats-the-difference-between-dolphins-and-porpoises-and-other-animal-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-26 23:00:00"}

News Update

What’s the Difference Between Dolphins and Porpoises? And Other Animal Trivia

January 26, 2026

{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Sea otters\/2025\/cropped-images\/so-mooring-release-2-laurie-miller-c-the-marine-mammal-center-USFWS-permit-MA101713-1-147-8-1270-992-1770307740.jpg","alt":"Sea otter - Mooring","title":"Rescue Stories: Southern Sea Otter Mooring Named the 2025 Patient of the Year","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/rescue-stories-vote-for-your-favorite-marine-mammal-patient-of-2025","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-16 10:05:08"}

News Update

Rescue Stories: Southern Sea Otter Mooring Named the 2025 Patient of the Year

January 16, 2026