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What is the active metabolite of morphine most likely to have a clinical effect in renal failure patients?

A. Normeperidine
B. Morphine-3-glucuronide
C. Normorphine
D. Morphine-6-glucuronide
E. Codeine

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The active metabolite of morphine most likely to have a clinical effect in renal failure patients is Morphine-6-glucuronide (Choice D).

Step-by-step explanation:

The active metabolite of morphine most likely to have a clinical effect in renal failure patients is Morphine-6-glucuronide (Choice D).

Glucuronidation is the primary pathway of morphine metabolism in the liver. Morphine-6-glucuronide is formed when morphine undergoes glucuronidation by the liver enzyme UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). This metabolite is pharmacologically active and has been found to accumulate in higher concentrations in patients with renal failure.

In contrast, Normeperidine (Choice A) is not a metabolite of morphine, but a metabolite of meperidine (pethidine). Normorphine (Choice C) is a metabolite of codeine. Codeine (Choice E) is a separate drug from morphine. And Morphine-3-glucuronide (Choice B) is a less pharmacologically active metabolite compared to Morphine-6-glucuronide.

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