Pharmacokinetics of carteolol in relation to renal function

Summary The plasma levels and urinary excretion of carteolol and its main metabolites 8-hydroxycarteolol and carteolol glucuronide were investigated in 6 healthy subjects and 9 patients with varying degrees of renal impairment following a single oral dose of 30 mg carteolol hydrochloride. In healthy subjects the half-life of carteolol was 7.1 h. 63% of the administered dose was recovered unchanged in urine, and in all 84% was excreted by the kidneys. The renal clearance of carteolol was 255 ml/min. In chronic renal failure (CRF) the terminal half-life was increased to a maximum of 41 h. Both the elimination rate constant and renal clearance were closely related to the creatinine clearance. In CRF the recovery of carteolol and its metabolites from urine was considerably reduced, suggesting that another pathway of drug elimination becomes relevant in renal disease. To avoid an increase in side-effects due to drug accumulation, the dosage of carteolol should be adjusted in relation to the reduction in creatinine clearance. The maintenance dose should be reduced to a half in patients with a creatinine clearance below 40 ml/min and above 10 ml/min. In those with a creatinine clearance of 10 ml/min or less, the dose should be reduced to 1/4.     

Pharmacokinetics of lisinopril in hypertensive patients with normal and impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of lisinopril was studied after administration of single and multiple doses of 5 mg to hypertensive patients with normal and impaired renal function.In patients with severe renal failure the peak concentrations were higher, the decline in serum concentration was slower and the time to peak concentration was extended. Accumulation of lisinopril was highly correlated with the creatinine clearance. The effective half-life was doubled and tripled in patients with mild and severe renal impairment, respectively, as compared to patients with a normal renal function. Lisinopril lowered blood pressure in all three groups over 24 h.It is suggested that smaller doses of lisinopril should be administered to patients with severe renal failure.     

Effect of carteolol on renal function in healthy subjects and patients with hypertension

Summary The effect of short- and long-term administration of carteolol on renal function has been examined in healthy subjects and in hypertensive patients with or without renal failure.In healthy subjects neither a single dose of 10 mg carteolol nor continuous administration of 20 mg/day for 7 days had any effect on creatinine clearance and renal blood flow. In all subjects the clearance rate of carteolol was about 400 ml/min and its fractional excretion of carteolol exceeded 300%, suggesting that the drug is secreted actively from renal tubules.Twenty-three hypertensive patients with or without renal dysfunction were given carteolol 10 to 20 mg/day for more than 50 weeks in addition to their standard antihypertensive regimens, which were left changed. Laboratory results were compared with the mean values of 50 weeks before and after the addition of carteolol, and none, including plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and electrolytes, were significantly changed. Neither the estimated glomerular filtration rate nor the effect of the drug on blood pressure changed significantly during this prolonged treatment.It is concluded that carteolol had no effect on renal function in healthy subjects and in hypertensive patients with or without renal failure.     

Clinical pharmacokinetics of bezafibrate in patients with impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of the new lipidlowering drug bezafibrate has been investigated in patients with impaired renal function and hyperlipoproteinaemia. 12 patients received a single oral dose of bezafibrate 300 mg. Plasma and urine samples were collected and bezafibrate was analyzed by gas chromatography. Eight of the patients had moderately impaired renal function, with a creatinine clearance between 20 and 40 ml/min; the mean plasma half-life of bezafibrate in them was 7.8±3.9 h (SD) and the plasma clearance was 0.03±0.02 l/kg · h. Three of the patients had a creatinine clearance>40 ml/min; in them the plasma half-life was shorter, 4.6±1.2 h, and the plasma clearance was higher, 0.06±0.01 l/kg · h. The slowest elimination of bezafibrate was found in a patient with a creatinine clearance of only 13 ml/min. This patient had a plasma half-life of 20.1 h, which is ten times longer than has been reported in healthy volunteers. Thus, when treating hyperlipoproteinaemia in patients with impaired renal function, the dosage of bezafibrate must be individualized because of its reduced renal elimination.     

Pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor cilazapril in hypertensive patients with normal and impaired renal function

1 The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor cilazapril were studied in 30 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal function.
2 After a single oral dose, apparent cilazaprilat clearance was dependent on renal function being 16.0±3.0, 11.1 ± 3.0, 8.7 ± 3.7 and 6.7 ± 2.1 l h^-1 (means ± s.d.) in patients with creatinine clearances (CL_cr) of > 100, 41-100, 21-40, and 8-20 ml min^-1, respectively.
3 During 11 weeks of treatment with cilazapril, doses were adjusted to the CL_cr and varied from 0.5 to 5.0 mg once daily. At 24 h after drug administration a clear antihypertensive response was seen only in the low clearance groups (CL_cr < 40ml min^-1). In contrast, and despite higher once daily dosages, the decline of mean arterial pressure was small and cilazaprilat concentrations after 24 h were lower in the high clearance groups.
4 This study demonstrates that chronic once daily treatment with cilazapril is effective in patients with impaired renal function at dosages adjusted to creatinine clearance. No accumulation was seen. Since cilazaprilat clearance was high in the high creatinine clearance groups, a clear antihypertensive response in these groups was only seen at 3 h after drug administration.     

Pharmacokinetics of cephacetrile in patients with normal or impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of cephacetrile, administered as a single i. v. injection of 15 mg/kg, have been determined in 8 patients with normal renal function and in 12 patients with a varying degree of renal impairment. A two-compartment model was used to describe the biphasic decline in serum concentrations and to calculate the amount of antibiotic in the central and peripheral compartments. In patients with normal renal function the following values were obtained for various pharmacokinetic parameters: =3.971 h^–1; =0.343 h^–1; K₁₂=1.745 h^–1; K₂₁=0.763 h^–1; K_el=1.793 h_–1; V_c=8.181; V_p=18.401 and V_dss=26.581. Cephacetrile had some of the highest apparent distribution volumes of all the cephalosporins. Impaired renal function significantly affected , , K₁₂, and K_el. A linear relationship between K_el of cephacetrile and creatinine clearance was demonstrated. The elimination of cephacetrile in anuric patients was about ten times slower than in patients with normal renal function.     

Pharmacokinetics of quinine in patients with chronic renal failure

Methods: We investigated the pharmacokinetics of quinine (Qn) following administration of a single oral dose of 600 mg Qn sulphate in six male Thai patients with a moderate degree of chronic renal failure (CRF), and six male Thai subjects with normal renal function. Results: The drug was well tolerated in both groups of subjects; no major adverse reactions were observed. A marked alteration in the pharmacokinetics of Qn was found in patients with CRF compared to healthy subjects; there were six signifiicant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters. Absorption was delayed, but increased in CRF (t_max 4.5 vs 1.6 h, C_max 6.17 vs 3.45 g·ml^–1). Total clearance was significantly reduced 0.94 vs 2.84 ml·min^–1·kg^–1, whereas V_z/f remained unchanged (1.82 vs 2.78 1·kg^–1). This resulted in the increased values of AUC and prolongation of the t_1/2z and MRT in the patients (AUC 181.5 vs 61.8 g·min^–1·ml^–1, t_1/2z 26 vs 9.7 h, MRT 36.4 vs 11.3 h). Median concentrations of plasma unbound fraction of Qn collected at 4 h after drug administration in patients and healthy subjects were 7.3 vs 9.8%, respectively.     

Pharmacokinetics of trimazosin and its effects on blood pressure,renal function and proteinuria during short-term therapy of patients with impaired renal function and hypertension

Summary The kinetics and short-term (10 weeks) effects of trimazosin, an alpha₁-adrenoreceptor antagonist, on renal function and blood pressure in patients with moderate chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension, have been studied for the first time. Eight patients in whom the blood pressure was not normalized with a diuretic alone underwent pharmacokinetic studies and assessment of the renal function during a 10-week period of trimazosin therapy. Trimazosin significantly lowered blood pressure (recumbent and upright) without significantly altering renal function. Renal vascular resistance was decreased by 14%. Fractional sodium excretion, proteinuria and laboratory serum tests remained unchanged. Neither body weight nor pulse rate were affected. Moderate renal insufficiency did not modify the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Thus, trimazosin, as second-step antihypertensive agent, appeared to be safe and effective in patients with moderate renal insufficiency and hypertension, without exerting favourable or adverse renal effects during short-term therapy.     

Pharmacokinetics of tenoxicam in patients with impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of tenoxicam after a single oral dose of 20 mg has been studied in 12 patients with various degrees of decreased renal function. Unchanged tenoxicam and its 5OH-metabolite in plasma and urine were determined by HPLC. The mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (138±53 µg/ml·h) and terminal half-lives in patients with impaired renal function did not differ from values previously reported in normal volunteers, nor did the peak concentration of tenoxicam. The half-life of 5OH-tenoxicam and unchanged tenoxicam where the same. The urinary excretion of 5OH-tenoxicam fell with decreasing renal function. Thus no dosage adjustment should be necessary and the usual daily dose of tenoxicam may be administered once daily also to patients with renal failure.     

Pharmacokinetics of flutamide in patients with renal insufficiency

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of flutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogenic compound, and its pharmacologically active metabolite, hydroxyflutamide, in renal insufficiency. Haemodialysis (HD) clearance of flutamide and hydroxyflutamide was also determined. METHODS: Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed for flutamide and hydroxyflutamide in 26 male subjects with normal renal function (creatinine clearance by 24 h urine collection, CLcr, greater than 80 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2); n=6) or reduced renal function; CLcr=50-80 (n=7), 30-49 (n=3), 5-29 (n=4), and <5 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2)-HD (n=6), following a single, oral 250 mg flutamide dose. Subjects undergoing HD received a second 250 mg dose of flutamide 4 h prior to HD; blood and dialysate were collected during HD to determine dialysability of flutamide and hydroxyflutamide. RESULTS: Cmax, tmax, AUC, t1/2, and renal clearance of flutamide and hydroxyflutamide did not differ between groups. Less than 1% of the dose appeared in dialysate as hydroxyflutamide. No serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Renal function did not affect flutamide nor hydroxyflutamide disposition. HD did not alter hydroxyflutamide pharmacokinetics. Dosing adjustments for renal impairment or HD are not indicated for flutamide.     

Pharmacokinetics of sotalol after chronic administration to patients with renal insufficiency

Summary Ten hypertensive patients with moderate to severe impairment of renal function were treated with sotalol for 5 to 10 weeks (average 6.4 weeks). Dosage was individually titrated (range 80 to 480 mg daily). The drug was given once daily in the morning. In eight patients blood pressure was satisfactorily controlled. Higher steady-state levels were observed than have been reported after similar doses in patients with normal renal function. The apparent first-order elimination rate constant and plasma clearance were significantly correlated with glomerular filtration rate. For an anuric patient, serum half-life was calculated to be 69 h. In relation to the raised plasma levels, side effects were uncommon. Since sotalol is excreted predominantly via the kidney, therapy in patients with impaired renal function should start with a low dose and any increase in dosage should be made carefully. As the anti-hypertensive effect does not appear to be correlated with the plasma level or with tolerance, adjustment of dose should be based on clinical response.     

Dosage adjustment for ceftazidime in patients with impaired renal function

Summary Ceftazidime has good antibacterial activity against many Gram-negative micro-organisms including Ps. aeruginosa.The aim of the present study was to calculate a dosage adjustment regimen for renal failure patients and to test it in a second group of patients. A study was made of the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime 1 g given as a single bolus i.v. injection in 20 patients in an intensive care unit with varying degrees of renal function, including patients on regular haemodialysis. The serum half-life of elimination (t_1/2) varied from 1.6 to 45 h depending on renal function. During haemodialysis the mean t_1/2 was 4.7 h. A good correlation between the renal clearance of creatinine and ceftazidime was observed. In most patients protein binding was lower than previously observed. From the pharmacokinetic data, a dosage adjustment regimen for patients with renal insufficiency was calculated, which studies in 7 further patients showed to be effective.Abbreviations C_t serum concentration at time t - and slopes of the bi-exponential curve of the fast and the slow disposition (overall elimination) processes - A and B intercepts of the distribution slope and elimination slope extrapolated to the ordinate - t_1/2 serum half-life of elimination - k₁₂ distribution rate constant for transfer from the central to the peripheral compartment - k₂₁ distribution rate constant for transfer from the peripheral to the central compartment - k₁₃ elimination rate constant from the central compartment - k_N and elimination rate constants from the central compartment in normal and impaired renal function, respectively - AUC area under the serum concentration-time curve from zero to infinity - V_t total apparent volume of distribution (area method) - V₁ and V₂ distribution volumes in the central and the peripheral compartments, respectively - CL total body clearance of ceftazidime - CL_R renal clearance of ceftazidime - CL_CR renal clearance of creatinine - T and dosing intervals in normal and impaired renal function - (m) pe (mean) prediction error - rmspe root mean squared prediction error     

Pharmacokinetics of enprofylline in patients with impaired renal function after a single intravenous dose

Summary Enprofylline, a new bronchodilating drug, was given i.v. at 1.0 mg/kg to 7 healthy subjects and to 14 patients with differing degrees of chronic renal insufficiency. Plasma and urine concentrations of unchanged drug were followed by HPLC. In the patients the plasma half-life was prolonged and the total and renal clearances were reduced in direct proportion to the degree of renal insufficiency as determined by creatinine clearance. The unbound fraction of enprofylline in plasma increased from 55% in the healthy subjects to 66% in the group of patients with the highest degree of renal impairment. The volume of distribution terms, V and V_ss, both tended to decrease with decreasing creatinine clearance. When the volume term calculations were based on the unbound drug level in plasma, this tendency was enhanced. Side-effects were noted in 4 subjects, and to some extent were related to the plasma level of the drug.     

Pharmacokinetics of flecainide in patients with mild and moderate renal failure compared with patients with normal renal function

Summary We have studied the pharmacokinetics of flecainide after the oral administration of 100 mg to 8 patients without renal impairment and 8 patients with mild to moderate renal failure. Both groups gave comparable results with respect to the peak plasma concentrations and the time to peak. There was a significant correlation between renal flecainide clearance and endogenous creatinine clearance. The elimination half-time in the patients with impaired renal function was significantly longer (19.9, SD 9.9 h) than that in the patients with normal renal function (11.5, SD 4.2 h), but the variability in the elimination half-time in renal failure could not be explained on the basis of the available results.dedicated to Professor Dr. U. Geßler on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Comparative enantioselective pharmacokinetic studies of celiprolol in healthy volunteers and patients with impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of the ß₁-selective adrenergic antagonist (R,S)-celiprolol has been studied after oral administration of 200 mg celiprolol-HCl to 8 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with various degrees of impaired renal function.No significant difference was found between the two enantiomers in the control group or in the patients. In healthy volunteers an average of 9.8% of the dose of R-(+)-celiprolol and 9.5% of S-(-)-celiprolol was recovered unchanged in the urine. Renal impairment reduced the urinary excretion of both enantiomers to the same extent according to the severity of the uraemia, producing higher AUCs. Nevertheless, the terminal half-lives of the R- and S-enantiomers were not significantly different between the groups. Dosage reduction in patients with renal impairment does not seem to be necessary.Part of the Ph.D. thesis of Claudia Hartmann     

Pharmacokinetics of atenolol in relation to renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of atenolol were determined following acute intravenous and chronic oral administration to 20 subjects with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 5 and 113 ml/min. Plasma levels in a further 5 patients on haemodialysis were measured after intravenous treatment. The mean half life of elimination increased from 5.9 h in patients with normal renal function to 42.1 h in preuraemic patients (GFR <10 ml/min) following a single i. v. dose. The half life of elimination following chronic oral administration was not significantly different. Mean peak plasma concentrations increased from 540 ng/ml in patients with normal renal function to 1493 ng/ml in preuraemic patients following chronic oral treatment with 100 mg/day. The mean half life of elimination during a single haemodialysis treatment was 4.3 h. In patients with a GFR >30 ml/min the normal daily dose of atenolol should be employed, in patients with a GFR between 10 and 30 ml/min the dose should be reduced by half, and in patients with a GFR <10 ml/min a reduction by three quarters of the normal dose is recommended.     

Pharmacokinetics of ramipril in hypertensive patients with renal insufficiency

In an open trial, the pharmacokinetics of ramipril and its active metabolite ramiprilat were studied in 25 hypertensive patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency given 5 mg ramipril p.o. for 14 days. Ramipril was rapidly absorbed and reached a peak concentration after 1-2 h. Cmax was greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency, which might indicate a reduced renal elimination rate, although, the rapid decline of the concentration-time curve for ramipril was almost independent of renal function. The mean initial apparent half-lives on Days 1 and 12, respectively, were 2.8 and 3.4 h (Group I: creatinine clearance 5-15 ml/min), 1.8 and 2.3 h (Group II: creatinine clearance 15-40 ml/min), and 1.9 and 1.9 h (Group III: creatinine clearance 40-80 ml/min). No accumulation was observed after multiple dosing. In contrast, the kinetics of its active acid metabolite ramiprilat was significantly influenced by renal function. The mean times to the peak plasma concentration were 5.7 h in Group I, 4.4 h in Group II and 3.8 h in Group III. The initial decline in plasma ramiprilat was dependent upon renal function; the mean initial apparent half-lives (Days 1 and 12, respectively) were 16.0 and 14.8 h (Group I), 10.1 and 9.5 h (Group II) and 10.6 and 8.0 h (Group III). Mean trough concentrations and absolute accumulation also increased with worsening renal function, and the renal clearance of ramiprilat was significantly correlated with the creatinine clearance. The subsequent long terminal phase at low plasma ramiprilat concentrations represented slow dissociation of the ACE-inhibitor complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetics of naproxen in subjects with normal and impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of naproxen after a single oral dose of 250 mg has been studied in 8 subjects with normal renal function and 16 patients with varying degrees of chronic renal insufficiency. Unchanged naproxen and its main unconjugated metabolite, 6-0-desmethylnaproxen, were determined fluorometrically in serum. In healthy subjects the elimination half-life of naproxen was 17.7± 3.0 h (mean±SD) and it was not significantly prolonged in patients with renal failure (18.1±5.3) h. No accumulation of naproxen in serum occurred in uraemic patients. On the contrary, serum drug levels were slightly but significantly lower in patients with severe renal failure. The total body clearance and apparent volume of distribution of naproxen were significantly increased in this group of patients. Decreased binding of naproxen to serum proteins was observed in patients with renal failure. The apparent half-life of desmethylnaproxen was of the same order of magnitude as that of naproxen (18.6± 4.4 h), and was also independent of renal function. A good correlation was found between the area under the curve (AUC), the peak concentration of the metabolite and the serum creatinine concentration. These observations suggest increased metabolism and an increased apparent volume of distribution of naproxen in severe renal failure, probably caused by decreased serum protein binding of the drug. However, it is proposed that in naproxen therapy no adjustment of the dosage regimen is necessary in patients with impaired renal function.     

Pharmacokinetics of tocainide in patients with severe renal failure

Summary The plasma levels of tocainide have been followed after oral administration of 600 mg p.o. to 20 patients with renal failure due to various causes, and to 8 healthy controls. The peak plasma concentrations in the patients with pyelonephritis (3.80 µg/ml) and interstitial nephritis (3.74 µg/ml) but not in those with glomerulonephritis (3.17 µg/ml) differed from that in healthy volunteers (3.24 µg/ml). The renal clearance of tocainide was well correlated with the endogenous creatinine clearance and was dependent on urine pH. No difference in renal clearance was observed between the patients groups. It is suggested that the changes in plasma levels are a consequence of decreased renal clearance. Creatinine clearance was shown to be a poor estimator of tocainide clearance, which suggests that extrarenal clearance plays an important role in the handling of the drug in the body. The findings are used to suggest a safe dosage regimen.     

Pharmacokinetics of nicorandil in patients with normal and impaired renal function

Summary The pharmacokinetics of oral nicorandil 20 mg 12 hourly for 9 doses was evaluated in 21 hospitalized patients with angina pectoris due to coronary heart disease and with normal and impaired renal function. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on creatinine clearance (CL_Cr): GROUP I (n=6) > 80 ml/min, GROUP II (n=8) 20–80 ml/min, and GROUP III (n=7) < 20 ml/min.After the first dose, the total clearance of nicorandil (CL) value did not change with increasing renal failure and so was not dependent on creatinine clearance. After the last dose CL was 51 l·h^–1 in Group I, 44 l·h^–1 in Group II and 56 l·h^–1 in Group III, and it was not related to creatinine clearance. The percentage of the dose excreted in the urine was 0.4%. No significant difference was noted in any of the other pharmacokinetic parameters examined in the three groups, not even on comparing values obtained on the first and last days of treatment.The findings suggest that there is no need to change the dose of nicorandil in subjects with different degrees of renal failure.