Altered first-pass effects in a liver transplant recipient explained intraindividual variation in calcineurin inhibitor concentrations: a case report

BACKGROUND: The significant interindividual and intraindividual variability in the blood concentrations of the most commonly used calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine makes the exact dosing of these agents in transplant recipients very challenging. As both of these drugs have narrow therapeutic index and are metabolized by hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P450 3A, we tested the hypothesis that these variations are secondary to varying first-pass effects in the gut and the liver over a period of time. CASE REPORT: A liver transplant recipient, who had previously presented with tacrolimus toxicity on his usual dosing regimen and intolerant to standard doses of cyclosporine, was selected to undergo the study. Oral and intravenous midazolam was used as the probe to measure hepatic and intestinal CYP3A4 activities at two different time points (phases one and two). Small intestinal biopsies were also obtained for measuring CYP3A4 activity for in vitro studies. On serially determining the patient's hepatic and intestinal CYP3A activities, we concluded that the variability in the dosing requirements is due to altered first-pass effects in the intestine. DISCUSSION: Transplant recipients receive multiple medications that may inhibit or induce these metabolizing enzymes, which eventually determine the concentrations of these narrow therapeutic agents. If no obvious etiology of intolerance to calcineurin inhibitors in a transplant recipient is identified, one should consider altered first-pass effects in the gut and the liver contributing to intraindividual variations in the blood concentrations.     

Second trimester hepatic rupture in a 35 year old nulliparous woman with HELLP syndrome: a case report

The HELLP syndrome (haemolysis, elevated liver blood tests and low platelets) is a serious complication in pregnancy characterized by haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count occurring in 0.5 to 0.9% of all pregnancies and in 10–20% of cases with severe preeclampsia. Hepatic capsular rupture is a rare yet dramatic complication of HELLP syndrome. The majority of cases occur in multiparous women over the age of 30. Classically it presents with acute onset right upper quadrant pain in the presence of constitutional symptoms such as vomiting and pyrexia. However, symptoms and signs are usually non specific. Spontaneous hepatic rupture can be preceded by signs of hypovolaemic shock; yet the diagnosis is infrequently made prior to emergent laparotomy. We present the case of a 35 year old nulliparous woman with a second trimester gestational hepatic rupture associated with HELLP syndrome. We briefly discuss the aetiology, diagnostic difficulties and treatment options associated with this rare presentation.     

Assessment of oral midazolam limited sampling strategies to predict area under the concentration time curve (AUC) during cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A baseline, inhibition and induction or activation

A previous study reported a 2- and 3-timepoint limited sampling strategy (LSS) model accurately predicted oral midazolam area under the concentration time curve (AUC), and thus cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A activity. Objective: This study evaluated whether the LSS models predict midazolam AUC during CYP3A baseline, inhibition and induction/activation. Materials and methods: Plasma midazolam concentrations from 106 healthy adults from 6 published studies were obtained where oral midazolam was co-administered alone or with ketoconazole, double-strength grapefruit juice, Ginkgo biloba extract, pleconaril, or rifampin. Observed and predicted midazolam AUCs were determined. Bias and precision of the LSS models were determined. Results: Contrasting results were observed for the 2- and 3-timepoint LSS models in accurately predicting midazolam AUC during baseline CYP3A conditions. With the exception of 1 study (single dose, double-strength grapefruit juice), the 2- and 3-timepoint LSS models did not accurately predict midazolam AUC during conditions of CYP3A inhibition and induction/activation. Conclusion: The previously reported 2- and 3-timepoint oral midazolam LSS models are not applicable to the evaluated conditions of CYP3A baseline, inhibition, and induction/ activation.     

Cis-isomerism and other chemical requirements of steroidal agonists and partial agonists acting at TRPM3 channels

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The transient receptor potential melastatin-3 (TRPM3) channel forms calcium-permeable, non-selective, cationic channels that are stimulated by pregnenolone sulphate (PregS). Here, we aimed to define chemical requirements of this acute steroid action and potentially reveal novel stimulators with physiological relevance.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We used TRPM3 channels over-expressed in HEK 293 cells, with intracellular calcium measurement and whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques.

KEY RESULTS

The stimulation of TRPM3 channels was confined to PregS and closely related steroids and not mimicked by other major classes of steroids, including progesterone. Relatively potent stimulation of TRPM3-dependent calcium entry was observed. A sulphate group positioned at ring A was important for strong stimulation but more striking was the requirement for a cis (β) configuration of the side group, revealing previously unrecognized stereo-selectivity and supporting existence of a specific binding site. A cis-oriented side group on ring A was not the only feature necessary for high activity because loss of the double bond in ring B reduced potency and loss of the acetyl group at ring D reduced efficacy and potency. Weak steroid stimulators of TRPM3 channels inhibited effects of PregS, suggesting partial agonism. In silico screening of chemical libraries for non-steroid modulators of TRPM3 channels revealed the importance of the steroid backbone for stimulatory effects.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our data defined some of the chemical requirements for acute stimulation of TRPM3 channels by steroids, supporting the existence of a specific and unique steroid binding site. Epipregnanolone sulphate was identified as a novel TRPM3 channel stimulator.     

Intraoperative use of Xefocam at laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Xefocam was used in patients with calculous cholecystitis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy to prolong anesthesia and to reduce an inflammatory process in an area under operation. The agent was injected into the round ligament of the liver in a dose of 16 mg intraoperatively and in a dose of 8 mg postoperatively. The proposed method was applied to 52 patients operated on for acute and chronic calculous cholecystitis. Fifty patients receiving the conventional anesthesia with the narcotic analgesic promedol were examined to evaluate the efficiency of the new procedure of anesthesia; the later being effective in 96.2% of the patients. The findings indicated the high efficiency of the proposed procedure without side effects observing in the use of narcotic analgesics. Furthermore, the nonspecific anti-inflammatory activity of Xefocam promotes a reduction in the number of postoperative local inflammatory complications.     

The effect of short- and long-term administration of verapamil on the disposition of cytochrome P450 3A and P-glycoprotein substrates

BACKGROUND: Verapamil has the capability to inhibit and induce cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), but the relative extent and time course of these events in vivo are unclear. The effect of verapamil on CYP3A and P-gp activity was determined by examining its effect on its own disposition and on the disposition of fexofenadine, respectively. METHODS: Twelve healthy volunteers received 60 mg fexofenadine alone or after administration of 240 mg verapamil for 1, 10, and 38 days. The concentrations of verapamil and norverapamil, as well as their enantiomers, were quantified in serum by chiral HPLC. The concentrations of fexofenadine and its metabolite, azacyclonol, were quantified in serum and urine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD maximum serum concentration (Cmax) and the area under the serum concentration-time curve of S-verapamil increased significantly on days 10 (40 +/- 21 ng/mL [P = .00044] and 433 +/- 316 ng.h.mL(-1) [P = .00047], respectively) and 38 (42 +/- 27 ng/mL [P = .019] and 433 +/- 256 ng.h.mL(-1) [P = .0081], respectively) compared with day 1 (21 +/- 12 ng/mL and 222 +/- 156 ng.h.mL(-1), respectively). The oral clearance (CLoral) of S-verapamil decreased significantly from 702 +/- 304 L/h on day 1 to 377 +/- 210 L/h on day 10 (P = .0029) and 449 +/- 419 L/h on day 38 (P = .05). Similar trends were observed for the Cmax and area under the serum concentration-time curve of R-verapamil and R- and S-norverapamil. All subjects showed a significant decrease in the CLoral of fexofenadine after a single dose (98 +/- 54 L/h, P = .00105) and 10-day dosing (102 +/- 40 L/h, P = .0011) of verapamil compared with the control value (156 +/- 69 L/h). The Cmax of fexofenadine was significantly increased by a single dose (165 +/- 42 ng/mL, P = .0005) and 10-day dosing (148 +/- 39 ng/mL, P = .0008) of verapamil compared with the control value (114 +/- 45 ng/mL). No significant difference in fexofenadine Cmax (P = .37) and CLoral (P = .43) was observed between the control values and values at 38 days of verapamil treatment. CONCLUSION: Verapamil inhibited CYP3A activity, with a maximum effect occurring within 10 days. Short-term administration of verapamil caused net inhibition of intestinal P-gp, whereas long-term administration of verapamil induced P-gp activity.     

Factor VIII ectopically targeted to platelets is therapeutic in hemophilia A with high-titer inhibitory antibodies

Inhibitory immune response to exogenously infused factor VIII (FVIII) is a major complication in the treatment of hemophilia A. Generation of such inhibitors has the potential to disrupt gene therapy for hemophilia A. We explore what we believe to be a novel approach to overcome this shortcoming. Human B-domain-deleted FVIII (hBDDFVIII) was expressed under the control of the platelet-specific alphaIIb promoter in platelets of hemophilic (FVIIInull) mice to create 2bF8trans mice. The FVIII transgene product was stored in platelets and released at the site of platelet activation. In spite of the lack of FVIII in the plasma of 2bF8trans mice, the bleeding phenotype of FVIIInull mice was corrected. More importantly, the bleeding phenotype was corrected in the presence of high inhibitory antibody titers introduced into the mice by infusion or by spleen cell transfer from recombinant hBDDFVIII-immunized mice. Our results demonstrate that this approach to the targeted expression of FVIII in platelets has the potential to correct hemophilia A, even in the presence of inhibitory immune responses to infused FVIII.