Impact of vanB vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteraemia analysed as a time-varying covariate on length of hospital stay.

The impact of vanB vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) bacteraemia on length of stay (LOS) in hospital, after adjusting for the time-varying nature of enterococcal bacteraemia (variable onset of bacteraemia post-admission), is unknown. Survival analyses (time-varying Cox and competing risks regression) were performed on vanB VRE bacteraemia patients, matched 1:1 with vancomycin-susceptible enterococci bacteraemia patients to determine the factors associated with LOS in these patients. In Cox regression analysis, vanB VRE bacteraemia, intensive-care-unit admission, Charlson co-morbidity index score ⩾4, and an increase in the time to receive appropriate antibiotics were associated with prolonged LOS. Competing risks regression which accounts for the influence of in-patient mortality on the ability to observe the event discharge alive from hospital suggests that, vanB VRE bacteraemia was not significantly associated with prolonged LOS. For the first time, the rate of discharge from hospital in patients with vanB VRE bacteraemia has been quantified.

Cell surface hydrophobicity of colistin-susceptible vs resistant Acinetobacter baumannii determined by contact angles: methodological considerations and implications.

Contact angle analysis of cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) describes the tendency of a water droplet to spread across a lawn of filtered bacterial cells. Colistin-induced disruption of the Gram-negative outer membrane necessitates hydrophobic contacts with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We aimed to characterize the CSH of Acinetobacter baumannii using contact angles, to provide insight into the mechanism of colistin resistance. Contact angles were analysed for five paired colistin-susceptible and resistant Ac. baumannii strains. Drainage of the water droplet through bacterial layers was demonstrated to influence results. Consequently, measurements were performed 0·66s after droplet deposition. Colistin-resistant cells exhibited lower contact angles (38·8±2·8-46·8±1·3°) compared with their paired colistin-susceptible strains (40·7±3·0-48·0±1·4°; anova; P<0·05). Contact angles increased at stationary phase (50·3±2·9-61·5±2·5° and 47·4±2·0-50·8±3·2°, susceptible and resistant, respectively, anova; P<0·05) and in response to colistin 32mgl(-1) exposure (44·5±1·5-50·6±2·8° and 43·5±2·2-48·0±2·2°, susceptible and resistant, respectively; anova; P<0·05). Analysis of complemented strains constructed with an intact lpxA gene, or empty vector, highlighted the contribution of LPS to CSH. Compositional outer-membrane variations likely account for CSH differences between Ac. baumannii phenotypes, which influence the hydrophobic colistin-bacterium interaction. Important insight into the mechanism of colistin resistance has been provided. Greater consideration of contact angle methodology is necessary to ensure accurate analyses are performed.

Population pharmacokinetics of colistin methanesulfonate and formed colistin in critically ill patients from a multicenter study provide dosing suggestions for various categories of patients.

With increasing clinical emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens and the paucity of new agents to combat these infections, colistin (administered as its inactive prodrug colistin methanesulfonate [CMS]) has reemerged as a treatment option, especially for critically ill patients. There has been a dearth of pharmacokinetic (PK) data available to guide dosing in critically ill patients, including those on renal replacement therapy. In an ongoing study to develop a population PK model for CMS and colistin, 105 patients have been studied to date; these included 12 patients on hemodialysis and 4 on continuous renal replacement therapy. For patients not on renal replacement, there was a wide variance in creatinine clearance, ranging from 3 to 169 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Each patient was treated with a physician-selected CMS dosage regimen, and 8 blood samples for PK analysis were collected across a dosage interval on day 3 or 4 of therapy. A linear PK model with two compartments for CMS and one compartment for formed colistin best described the data. Covariates included creatinine clearance on the total clearance of CMS and colistin, as well as body weight on the central volume of CMS. Model-fitted parameter estimates were used to derive suggested loading and maintenance dosing regimens for various categories of patients, including those on hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement. Based on our current understanding of colistin PK and pharmacodynamic relationships, colistin may best be used as part of a highly active combination, especially for patients with moderate to good renal function and/or for organisms with MICs of ≥ 1.0 mg/liter.

In pursuit of the triple crown: mechanism-based pharmacodynamic modelling for the optimization of three-drug combinations against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVES: Optimal combination therapy for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) is unknown. The present study sought to characterize the pharmacodynamics (PD) of polymyxin B (PMB), meropenem (MEM) and rifampin (RIF) alone and in combination using a hollow fibre infection model (HFIM) coupled with mechanism-based modelling (MBM). METHODS: A 10-day HFIM was utilized to simulate human pharmacokinetics (PK) of various PMB, MEM and RIF dosing regimens against a clinical KPC-Kp isolate, with total and resistant subpopulations quantified to capture PD response. A MBM was developed to characterize bacterial subpopulations and synergy between agents. Simulations using the MBM and published population PK models were employed to forecast the bacterial time course and the extent of its variability in infected patients for three-drug regimens. RESULTS: In the HFIM, a PMB single-dose ('burst') regimen of 5.53 mg/kg combined with MEM 8 g using a 3-hr prolonged infusion every 8 hr and RIF 600 mg every 24 hr resulted in bacterial counts below the quantitative limit within 24 hr and remained undetectable throughout the 10-day experiment. The final MBM consisted of two bacterial subpopulations of differing PMB and MEM joint susceptibility and the ability to form a non-replicating, tolerant subpopulation. Synergistic interactions between PMB, MEM and RIF were well quantified, with the MBM providing adequate capture of the observed data. DISCUSSION: An in vitro-in silico approach answers questions related to PD optimization as well as overall feasibility of combination therapy against KPC-Kp, offering crucial insights in the absence of clinical trials.

Using machine learning to optimize antibiotic combinations: dosing strategies for meropenem and polymyxin B against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

OBJECTIVES: Increased rates of carbapenem-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii have forced clinicians to rely upon last-line agents, such as the polymyxins, or empirical, unoptimized combination therapy. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (a) to evaluate the in vitro pharmacodynamics of meropenem and polymyxin B (PMB) combinations against A. baumannii; (b) to utilize a mechanism-based mathematical model to quantify bacterial killing; and (c) to develop a genetic algorithm (GA) to define optimal dosing strategies for meropenem and PMB. METHODS: A. baumannii (N16870; MICmeropenem = 16 mg/L, MICPMB = 0.5 mg/L) was studied in the hollow-fibre infection model (initial inoculum 108 cfu/mL) over 14 days against meropenem and PMB combinations. A mechanism-based model of the data and population pharmacokinetics of each drug were used to develop a GA to define the optimal regimen parameters. RESULTS: Monotherapies resulted in regrowth to ~1010 cfu/mL by 24 h, while combination regimens employing high-intensity PMB exposure achieved complete bacterial eradication (0 cfu/mL) by 336 h. The mechanism-based model demonstrated an SC50 (PMB concentration for 50% of maximum synergy on meropenem killing) of 0.0927 mg/L for PMB-susceptible subpopulations versus 3.40 mg/L for PMB-resistant subpopulations. The GA had a preference for meropenem regimens that improved the %T > MIC via longer infusion times and shorter dosing intervals. The GA predicted that treating 90% of simulated subjects harbouring a 108 cfu/mL starting inoculum to a point of 100 cfu/mL would require a regimen of meropenem 19.6 g/day 2 h prolonged infusion (2 hPI) q5h + PMB 5.17 mg/kg/day 2 hPI q6h (where the 0 h meropenem and PMB doses should be 'loaded' with 80.5% and 42.2% of the daily dose, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study provides a methodology leveraging in vitro experimental data, a mathematical pharmacodynamic model, and population pharmacokinetics provide a possible avenue to optimize treatment regimens beyond the use of the 'traditional' indices of antibiotic action.

Assessment and modelling of antibacterial combination regimens.

BACKGROUND: The increasing global prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is forcing clinicians to prescribe combination antibiotic regimens to treat serious infections. Currently, the joint activity of a combination is quantified by comparing the observed and expected effects using a reference model. These reference models make different assumptions and interpretations of synergy. They fail to: (i) account for multiple bacterial subpopulations with differing susceptibilities; (ii) quantify or interpret the explicit interaction (synergy/antagonism) mechanisms; and (iii) accommodate spontaneous mutations. AIMS: To develop better study designs, mathematical models, metrics and pharmacodynamic analyses to assist with the identification of highly active combinations that are translatable to the clinical context to address the mounting antibiotic resistance threat. SOURCES: PubMed, references of identified studies and reviews, and personal experience when evidence was lacking. CONTENT: We reviewed metrics and approaches for quantifying the joint activity of the combination. The first example is using experimental data from an in vitro checkerboard synergy panel to develop and illustrate a less model-dependent method for assessing combination regimens. In the second example a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model was developed using mechanism-based mathematical modelling and monotherapy and combination therapy data obtained from an in vitro hollow fibre infection model evaluating linezolid and rifampin regimens against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. IMPLICATIONS: Mechanism-based mathematical approach provides an excellent platform for describing the time course of effect while taking into account the mechanisms of different antibiotics and differing pathogen susceptibilities. This approach allows for the future integration of 'omics' data describing host-pathogen interactions, that will provide a systems-level understanding of the underlying infectious process, and enable the design of effective combination therapies.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of photodynamic therapy for high-grade gliomas using a novel boronated porphyrin.

PURPOSE: To determine the recommended dose, toxicity profile, and pharmacokinetics of a novel boronated porphyrin (BOPP) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of intracranial tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BOPP was administered alone in increasing doses (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, or 8.0 mg/kg) preoperatively in patients with intracranial tumors undergoing postresection PDT until dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine assessable patients with intracranial tumors received BOPP intravenously 24 hours before surgery. The recommended dose was 4 mg/kg. Dose escalation was limited by thrombocytopenia. The most common nonhematologic toxicity was skin photosensitivity. Pharmacokinetic parameters showed increased area under the plasma concentration-time curve and maximum concentration with increased dose. Tumor BOPP concentrations also increased with increased dose. CONCLUSION: BOPP at a dose of 4 mg/kg was well tolerated. DLT was thrombocytopenia, and photosensitivity was the only other toxicity of note. The efficacy of PDT using BOPP requires further exploration.

Bioequivalence requirements for generic products.

Many countries have established procedures for the introduction of generic pharmaceutical products. In order to protect consumers, these generic products must be demonstrated to be therapeutically equivalent to a previously approved product, typically an innovator product. The therapeutic equivalence of a generic and an innovator product is most commonly based on the demonstration of bioequivalence, i.e. clinically insignificant differences in the rate and extent of drug absorption usually assessed from pharmacokinetic measurements. This article reviews the bioequivalence requirements for generic products and, in the interest of promoting international harmonisation, highlights those areas where differences exist among countries.

Prediction of drug absorption based on immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography separation and calculated molecular descriptors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of IAM chromatography in building a model that would allow prediction of drug absorption in humans. The human intestinal absorption values (%HIA) for 52 drugs with low to high intestinal absorption were collected from the literature. The retention (capacity factor, k') of each drug was measured by reverse-phase HPLC using an IAM.PC.DD2 column (prepared with phosphatidylcholine analogs, 12 microM, 300A, 15 cm x 4.6 mm) with an eluent of acetonitrile-0.1M phosphate buffer at pH 5.4. In addition, 76 molecular descriptors and solubility parameters for each drug were calculated using ChemSW from the 3D-molecular structures. Stepwise regression was employed to develop a regression equation that would correlate %HIA with molecular descriptors and k'. Human intestinal absorption was reciprocally correlated to the negative value of the capacity factor (-1/k') (R=0.64). The correlation was further improved with the addition of molecular descriptors representing molecular size and shape (molecular width, length and depth) solubility (solubility parameter, HLB, hydrophilic surface area) and polarity (dipole, polar surface area) (R=0.83). Experimentally measured IAM chromatography retention values and calculated molecular descriptors and solubility parameters can be used to predict intestinal absorption of drugs in humans. Developed QSAR can be used as a screening method in the designing of drugs with appropriate IA and for the selection of drug candidates in the early stage of drug discovery process.

Meperidine binding in maternal and fetal plasma.

Meperidine protein binding was measured in nine pairs of maternal and fetal plasma samples obtained at delivery. For the maternal samples, percent bound and binding ratio (bound/free, B/F) were 63.3 +/- 6.18% (SD) and 1.79 +/- 0.45, and for the fetal samples the corresponding values were 51.7 +/- 4.53% and 1.09 +/- 0.21. In each case the binding was higher in the mother than in the fetus (p less than 0.01). Plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP) concentrations were higher (p less than 0.01) in maternal than in fetal samples, and there was a correlation between meperidine B/F and plasma alpha 1-AGP concentration for the maternal and fetal samples (r = 0.752, p less than 0.01). Binding studies with purified alpha 1-AGP showed that this was a cause-effect relationship. The transplacental binding differential was attributable partially to the maternal-fetal difference of plasma alpha 1-AGP concentrations. Meperidine was 17.5 +/- 0.35% bound in a 3.5 gm/100 ml solution of human serum albumin; however, there was an inverse correlation (r = -0.798, p less than 0.01) between B/F and plasma albumin concentration for the maternal and fetal samples. A relatively large proportion (75%) of the overall variability in B/F was accounted for by plasma alpha 1-AGP and albumin. Plasma binding of this basic drug was not greatly influenced by the perinatal levels of bilirubin and nonesterified fatty acids. The common clinical observation of greater fetal than maternal plasma total meperidine concentrations at delivery is not the result of more extensive protein binding in fetal than in maternal plasma.

Design of infusion regimens to achieve and maintain a predetermined plasma drug level range.

A method is proposed for the design of dosage regimens using two consecutive constant-rate intravenous infusions to rapidly achieve and maintain plasma drug levels within a predetermined range. By this method, the plasma level will rise to a predetermined maximum at the end of the loading infusion, decrease rapidly to a chosen fraction of the ultimate steady-state level, and then slowly rise to the steady-state level. The method may be particularly useful for drugs exhibiting extensive "multi-compartment" kinetics. Compared with other methods, this approach allows either or both a shorter loading infusion and a lower peak plasma level. Application of this method to clomethiazole therapy for the sedation of pregnant women at term is also discussed.

The disposition and placental transfer of diazepam in cesarean section.

The disposition parameters and placental transfer of diazepam were determined from blood and both plasma total and free concentration data in five women who had not undergone labor and who received diazepam (5 mg intravenously for 2 minutes) 1 1/2 to 3 hours before cesarean section at term. All patients exhibited smooth log plasma free concentration-time profiles. In contrast, marked increases in plasma total (approximate 50% increase) and blood (approximate 40% increase) diazepam concentrations occurred at delivery. The plasma total and blood concentration fluctuations were associated with reciprocal variations in diazepam percent free in plasma. For each patient there was a substantial increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration during the surgical period. There was a significant correlation (p less than 0.02) between diazepam percent free and plasma NEFA concentration on the day of delivery, suggesting that the fluctuations in percent free, and hence plasma total and blood diazepam concentrations, were mediated in part by variations in plasma NEFA concentration. Disposition parameters were calculated for four of the patients; the mean free plasma clearance of diazepam was 42.5 ml/min/kg, similar to the mean value reported previously for nonpregnant women of comparable age. For each mother-infant pair at delivery the ratio of total plasma diazepam concentration in umbilical vein plasma to that in maternal vein plasma was considerably greater than unity (mean +/- SD = 1.73 +/- 0.47), whereas the corresponding ratio for free plasma diazepam concentration was near unity (0.92 +/- 0.09).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacokinetics of L-carnitine in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing long-term hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: L-Carnitine is an endogenous molecule involved in fatty acid metabolism. Secondary carnitine deficiency may develop in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing long-term hemodialysis because of dialytic loss. In these patients L-carnitine can be administered to restore plasma and tissue levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of intravenous L-carnitine in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. METHODS: Twelve patients undergoing three dialysis sessions/week received L-carnitine intravenously (20 mg x kg(-1)) at the end of each dialysis session for 9 weeks. Plasma samples were analyzed for L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and total carnitine by HPLC. RESULTS: Under baseline conditions, the mean +/- SD predialysis plasma concentration of L-carnitine was 19.5 +/- 5.6 micromol/L, decreasing to 5.6 +/- 1.9 micromol/L at the end of the dialysis session. These concentrations were substantially lower than endogenous levels in healthy human beings. Under baseline conditions the extraction ratios of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine by the dialyser were 0.74 +/- 0.07 and 0.71 +/- 0.11, respectively. During repeated dosing, there was accumulation of L-carnitine in plasma, and after 9 weeks of dosing, the predialysis and postdialysis plasma levels were 191 +/- 54.1 and 41.8 +/- 13.0 micromol/L, respectively. The predialysis and postdialysis plasma levels of L-carnitine decreased once dosing was ceased but had not returned to pretreatment levels after 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that removal of L-carnitine by hemodialysis is extremely efficient and that patients undergoing hemodialysis had plasma concentrations that were substantially lower than normal, particularly during dialysis. During repeated administration of L-carnitine, the predialysis and postdialysis concentrations of the compound increased steadily, reaching an apparent steady state after about 8 weeks. It is proposed that this accumulation arose from the distribution of L-carnitine into a deep tissue pool that includes skeletal muscle.

Hepatic disposition of electrophilic acyl glucuronide conjugates.

Acyl glucuronides are a unique class of electrophilic metabolites, capable of non-enzymatic reactions including acylation and/or glycation of endogenous macromolecules, hydrolysis to reform the parent aglycone, and intra-molecular rearrangement. Three human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyzing the hepatic glucuronidation of carboxylic acid drugs have been identified, UGT1A3, UGT1A9 and a UGT2B7 variant. Within the liver, acyl glucuronides also undergo enzymatic hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidase and esterases which, like the UGTs, are located in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, the liver also transports acyl glucuronides between the sinusoidal circulation and bile. Due to their polarity, membrane transport of acyl glucuronides is carrier-mediated, resulting in the establishment of significant concentration gradients between sinusoidal circulation, hepatocyte and bile, in the order of 1:50:5,000 in these compartments, respectively. As a result of exposure to high acyl glucuronide concentrations, the liver is a major target of protein adduct formation. Dipeptidylpeptidase IV, UGTs and tubulin have been identified as intra-hepatic targets of adduct formation by acyl glucuronides. Adduct formation results in altered protein activity and potentially contributes to hepatotoxicity. Hepatic protein adducts are also immunogenic and may cause immune mediated cytotoxicity. Both intra- and extra-hepatic exposure to acyl glucuronides depends not only on the efficiency of glucuronidation and hydrolysis by the liver, but also on the efficiency of the hepatic membrane transport systems. Thus, changes in membrane transporter activities, as may occur due to saturation or drug-drug interactions, can significantly affect acyl glucuronide disposition, adduct formation and the disposition of parent aglycone, thereby affecting clinical efficacy and toxicity of acyl glucuronide forming drugs.

The effect of old age on the disposition and antinociceptive response of morphine and morphine-6 beta-glucuronide in the rat.

The aims of this study were to examine the effect of old age on the pharmacokinetics of morphine and morphine-6 beta-glucuronide (M6G) and their relationships to antinociceptive activity. Morphine (21.0 mumol/kg) or M6G (21.7 mumol/kg) were administered s.c. to young adult and aged male Hooded-Wistar rats. Antinociceptive effect was measured by the tail-flick method at various times up to 2.5 h or 6.5 h after morphine or M6G administration, respectively, and concentrations of morphine, morphine-3 beta-glucuronide (M3G) and M6G in plasma and brain were determined by HPLC. Creatinine clearance was significantly lower by 33% or 21% in aged compared to young adult rats receiving morphine or M6G, respectively. After morphine administration, the areas under the (i) antinociceptive effect-time curve, (ii) plasma morphine concentration-time curve, and (iii) brain morphine concentration-time curve were not different between young adult and aged rats. However, the AUC for plasma M3G was five-fold higher in the aged relative to young adult rats, which could not be accounted for by only a 33% lower creatinine clearance. M6G was not detected in any plasma or brain sample from rats administered morphine and no M3G was detected in brain. For M6G administration, the areas under the (i) antinociceptive effect-time curve, and (ii) plasma M6G concentration-time curve were 1.8- and 1.6-fold higher in aged compared to young adult rats, respectively. Concentrations of M6G in brain were below the limit of quantification. No morphine or M3G was detected in any of the plasma or brain samples of rats administered M6G. The results demonstrate no change in morphine antinociception and pharmacokinetics with age, and suggest that blood-brain barrier permeability and reception sensitivity to morphine are not altered in aged rats. Accumulation of M3G in plasma of aged rats is probably due to diminished renal clearance of M3G in addition to a reduction in the biliary excretion of M3G. The heightened sensitivity of the aged rats to M6G is probably due to the observed altered kinetics of M6G rather than a pharmacodynamic change.

Drug kinetics in childbirth.

Drugs from a wide range of pharmacological classes are commonly given to women in childbirth, either for a maternal effect or a fetal/neonatal effect. A number of striking physiological and biochemical changes occur during labour and delivery that might alter drug kinetics. The rate of drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract may be normal in labour provided that narcotic analgesics are not administered concurrently. Altered blood flow characteristics in the extremities could modify drug absorption from intramuscular injection sites. Drug distribution might be altered as a result of the presence of placental-fetal tissues, or as a consequence of changes in, for example, maternal blood volume, concentrations of proteins and other endogenous compounds, cardiac output or tissue perfusion. Although data are scanty on the status of the physiological determinants of drug clearance, that limited information available suggests that drug clearance could be altered in childbirth. The possibility of a placental and/or fetal contribution should not be overlooked when considering the clearance of drugs administered during labour and delivery. Uterine contractions, maternal posture and obstetric medication have been found to affect the extent of some of the physiological changes that occur. Consequently, drug disposition could be modified by these factors. All of the drugs given to women in childbirth are capable of crossing the placenta to some degree. This is a disadvantage in those cases where drugs are given for a maternal effect and may result in neonatal sequelae. The fetal exposure to, and neonatal burden at delivery of, drugs administered during labour and delivery may be influenced by many factors, including maternal posture, mode of drug administration, the drug administraton to delivery interval, fetal pH, and whether intravenous bolus drug administration coincides with the contraction or relaxation phase of uterine activity. Protracted elimination by the neonate may occur for those drugs acquired in utero. Realisation of this is of considerable importance in the clinical management of the newborn.

Pharmacokinetic drug interactions with phenytoin (Part I).

Phenytoin, which is used primarily as an anticonvulsant agent, has a relatively low therapeutic index, and monitoring of plasma phenytoin concentration is often used to help guide therapy. It has properties which predispose it to an involvement in pharmacokinetic interactions, a large number of which have been reported. These properties include: low aqueous solubility and slow rate of gastrointestinal absorption; a relatively high degree of plasma protein binding; a clearance that is non-linear due to saturable oxidative biotransformation; and the ability to induce hepatic microsomal enzymes. Because of its narrow therapeutic range, drug interactions leading to alterations in plasma phenytoin concentration may be clinically important. Such interactions have often been reported initially as either cases of phenytoin intoxication or of decreased effectiveness. Drugs may modify the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin by altering its absorption, plasma protein binding, or hepatic biotransformation; alterations in the absorption and/or biotransformation may lead to changes in both the unbound plasma phenytoin concentration and, as a result, the clinical effect. Preparations which may decrease the gastrointestinal absorption of phenytoin include nutritional formulae and charcoal. There are many reports of drugs which may increase (e.g. folic acid, dexamethasone and rifampicin) or decrease (e.g. valproic acid, sulthiame, isoniazid, cimetidine, phenylbutazone, chloramphenicol and some sulphonamides) the metabolism of phenytoin. It is important to bear in mind that, as a result of its non-linear clearance, changes in phenytoin absorption and/or biotransformation will lead to more than proportionate changes in plasma drug concentration. Drugs which may displace phenytoin from plasma albumin include valproic acid, salicylic acid, phenylbutazone and some sulphonamides. Although an alteration in the unbound fraction of phenytoin in plasma would not, in itself, be expected to alter the unbound plasma phenytoin concentration, the interpretation of total plasma concentrations for therapeutic drug monitoring may be confounded. Some drugs appear to alter phenytoin pharmacokinetics via dual mechanisms (e.g. valproic acid and phenylbutazone), while for other compounds the mechanism of interaction has not been fully elucidated. Phenytoin has been reported to alter the pharmacokinetics of a large number of drugs. The majority of these interactions arise because phenytoin is a potent inducer of cytochrome P450 microsomal enzymes, and therefore may increase the clearance of drugs which are extensively metabolised; drugs affected include carbamazepine, theophylline, methadone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, metyrapone and several cardiac antiarrhythmic agents. With all of these, the resultant decrease in plasma concentrations may be clinically important.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Plasma concentrations and renal clearance of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in cancer patients receiving morphine.

The plasma concentrations and renal clearance values of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) were determined in 11 adult cancer patients maintained on a long term oral morphine dosage (10 to 100mg every 4h). Concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by a specific high performance liquid chromatography assay. In this group of patients, whose creatinine clearance values ranged from 52 to 180 ml/min (3.12 to 10.8 L/h), average steady-state plasma concentrations of morphine, M3G and M6G were related (p < 0.01) to the morphine dose per kilogram of bodyweight. The mean total urinary recovery as morphine, M3G and M6G was 74.6 +/- 26.5% of the dose. Renal clearance values for M3G and M6G were closely related (r2 = 0.80; p < 0.0005). It was not possible to detect a relationship between the renal clearance of morphine, M3G and M6G, and that of creatinine. The renal tubular handling of all 3 compounds showed wide interindividual variation, and there was evidence of either net renal tubular secretion or reabsorption. There was no apparent relationship between plasma morphine and M6G concentrations and pain relief.

Influence of morphine concentration on detergent activation of rat liver morphine-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase.

The effect of two detergents, Triton X-100 and Brij 58, on the production rate of morphine-3-glucuronide by rat hepatic microsomes has been investigated over a range of detergent and substrate concentrations, using a specific HPLC assay. Activation of morphine-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (morphine-UDPGT) by Triton X-100 was more complex than that shown by Brij 58. At the optimal concentration of Triton X-100 (0.1-0.125 mg Triton X-100/mg microsomal protein), relative metabolic activity (activity of morphine-UDPGT in the activated state/activity of morphine-UDPGT in the native state; RMA) was 0.9, 1.3 and 2.5 at morphine concentrations of 0.05, 0.5 and 2.5 mM, respectively. Analysis of results from six individual rats in the native and maximally activated state (0.125 mg Triton X-100/mg microsomal protein) showed that RMA was highly dependent upon substrate concentration (P less than 0.0001). Activation produced by the optimal concentration of Brij 58 (0.15 mg Brij 58/mg microsomal protein) was also dependent upon substrate concentration with values for RMA of 3.3, 6.4 and 9.3 at morphine concentrations of 0.05, 0.5 and 2.5 mM, respectively. Analysis of kinetic data is complicated by substrate concentration-dependent detergent activation. It is proposed that factors contributing to substrate concentration-dependent variable activation may include micellar solubilization of substrate by detergent and/or the presence of at least two enzyme forms capable of glucuronidating morphine with differential effects of detergents on these forms.

Effects of cyclophosphamide and adriamycin on rat hepatic microsomal glucuronidation and lipid peroxidation.

The effect of cytotoxic drug administration, as a single dose i.p. to rats (six rats/treatment group), on hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity was investigated. Glucuronidation of morphine in microsomes from control rats apparently involved at least two enzymes. Administration of cyclophosphamide (CP; 200 mg/kg 7 days prior to killing) significantly increased the rate of morphine glucuronidation over the range 0.05-10 mM, and significantly increased the apparent Vmax for the high capacity isoenzyme from 1.25 +/- 0.12 to 1.95 +/- 0.39 nmol/mg/min. In contrast, the activity of 1-naphthol UGT was not significantly altered by administration of CP. Rats treated with the same dose of CP 1 day prior to killing showed a significant decrease in microsomal morphine-UGT activity at 0.05 and 2.5 mM morphine, but a significant increase in activity was observed following administration of CP or Adriamycin (AD; 10 mg/kg) 4 days prior to killing. The extent of microsomal lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in microsomes obtained from rats treated with CP or AD 4 days prior to killing, and was positively correlated (P less than 0.001) with the rate of glucuronidation of 0.05 and 2.5 mM morphine. Preincubation of microsomes in the presence of CP (5 mM) and AD (100 microM) significantly decreased the rate of glucuronidation of 2.5 mM morphine. In vitro NADPH-mediated lipid peroxidation significantly increased the activity of both the high and low affinity morphine-UGT isoenzymes. Administration of the cytotoxic drugs CP and AD may alter microsomal morphine-UGT activity via the process of lipid peroxidation, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded.