Sodium tetradecyl sulfate

Chemical formula: C₁₄H₂₉NaO₄S  Molecular mass: 316.43 g/mol  PubChem compound: 23665772

Mechanism of action

Sodium tetradecyl sulfate is a sclerosing agent. Intravenous injection causes intima inflammation and thrombus formation. This usually occludes the injected vein. Subsequent formation of fibrous tissue results in partial or complete vein obliteration that may or may not be permanent.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Published clinical series have shown that sodium tetradecyl sulfate converted to a foam is very effective at treating larger varicose veins e.g. great saphenous vein and tributaries. The foam is able to displace the blood and the sclerosant has more time to act on the endothelium compared to the liquid form. Some adverse events are more frequent following foam sclerotherapy than liquid sclerotherapy e.g. headache, migraine and visual disturbances. Adverse neurological events may also occur, but these are rare.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

Sodium tetradecyl sulfate containing sodium tetradecyl sulfate is administered directly into the lumen of the isolated segment of vein/venule.

Distribution

In humans, the majority (75%) of an injected dose of radiolabelled 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate rapidly disappeared from the empty varicose vein injection site into communicating blood vessels with rapid passage into the deep calf veins.

In rats, at 72 hours after intravenous dosing of radiolabelled sodium tetradecyl sulfate, tissue levels of radiolabel found in the sampled tissues (liver, kidney, lipid and skeletal muscle) were extremely low. Although there was some evidence of radiolabel associated with the injection site, the levels were very low.

Biotransformation

The metabolism of sodium tetradecyl sulfate has not been confirmed.

Elimination

Of an intravenously administered radiolabelled dose, 70% was recovered in the urine of rats within the first 24 hours post-dosing. At the end of the 72 hour post-dose period, 73.5% of the radiolabel had been recovered from the urine and 18.2% recovered from the faeces.

Hepatic/renal impairment

No pharmacokinetics studies have been performed in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.

Preclinical safety data

No further data.

Related medicines

© All content on this website, including data entry, data processing, decision support tools, "RxReasoner" logo and graphics, is the intellectual property of RxReasoner and is protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of any part of this content without explicit written permission from RxReasoner is strictly prohibited. Any third-party content used on this site is acknowledged and utilized under fair use principles.