The Influence of Misoprostol on the Adverse Renal Effects and Stereospecific Pharmacokinetics of Ibuprofen in Chronic Renal Insufficiency

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) may be complicated by renal functional abnormalities due to the inhibition of renal prostaglandins. We tested the hypothesis that administration of the oral PGE1 analog, misoprostol, could attenuate the adverse renal effects of ibuprofen in patients with CRI. Because the metabolism of misoprostol and the stereoinversion of R- to S-ibuprofen involve the same metabolic pathway, the stereospecific pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen were also evaluated. In a randomized, crossover trial of six stable CRI patients (Clcr 25--67 ml min(minus sign1)), in sodium balance on a 150 mEq Na(+) per day metabolic diet, we compared the effects of ibuprofen 600 mg qid with and without misoprostol 200 &mgr;g qid upon Clcr, Clinulin, Clpah, Na(+), and K(+) excretion during 4-h clearance studies. We also assessed stereospecific ibuprofen kinetics following single dose (acute) and after 7 days on drug(s) (chronic). Daily weights, supine blood pressures, electrolytes, osmolality, BUN, creatinine and 24-h urine collections for Clcr and Na(+) and K(+) excretions were obtained during chronic dosing. Supine and upright plasma renin activities were obtained prior to dosing and during chronic dosing for both treatment limbs. Ibuprofen alone resulted in an approximately 20% transient reduction in GFR, occurring 2--2.5 h following dosing in both the acute and chronic clearance studies. This was not affected by misoprostol. There was a greater degree of stimulation of PRA with the upright posture with misoprostol plus ibuprofen than with ibuprofen alone. There was a significant weight gain in both study limbs, but no effect of misoprostol (1.2 plus minus 0.2 kg ibuprofen alone and 1.0 plus minus 0.2 kg ibuprofen plus misoprostol, p = 0.13). Otherwise no clinically significant alteration in renal function occurred in either treatment limb. The presence of misoprostol did not alter the stereospecific pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen. We conclude that misoprostol does not significantly alter the renal effects of ibuprofen in patients with mild to moderate CRI.