Randomized, open-label, 5-way crossover study to evaluate the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interaction between furosemide and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac and ibuprofen in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can induce renal complications in patients taking loop diuretics. This study investigated the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic effects and safety profile of orally administered diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen and diclofenac epolamine topical patch (DETP) on furosemide in healthy adult subjects. METHODS: This open-label, randomized, 5-way crossover study was conducted in 40 subjects (aged 19 - 45 y). Diclofenac (75 mg taken orally twice daily), DETP (1.3% applied topically twice daily), or ibuprofen (800 mg taken orally thrice daily) was administered for 3 consecutive days, followed by co-administration with furosemide (given intravenously as 20 mg/2 min). Plasma furosemide and NSAID concentrations, urine furosemide, sodium and potassium concentrations and urine output were determined throughout the 24 h period following furosemide administration. RESULTS: Orally administered ibuprofen significantly increased furosemide AUC(0-t) (37%) and AUC(0-inf) (36%) and decreased total body CL (27%), R(max) (19%) and CLR (23%) geometric mean ratios compared with furosemide control. Oral and topical diclofenac had no pharmacokinetic effects on furosemide. Ibuprofen increased sodium excretion (Ae(0-24), 16%) and decreased sodium R(max) (15%), and oral diclofenac decreased urine output (Vu(0-24), 15%). DETP had no effect on furosemide pharmacodynamics; total systemic exposure to diclofenac during DETP treatment was < 1% that of oral diclofenac. Treatments were generally safe, with 25 subjects reporting a total of 112 adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacodynamic effects were seen with oral diclofenac (urine output) and ibuprofen (urine sodium excretion). Furosemide also affected plasma and urine pharmacokinetic profiles. Pharmacologic effects of DETP on furosemide were not observed under these conditions. Additional research is warranted to delineate the potential interactions of other NSAIDs with furosemide and other loop diuretics.

Collecting duct sodium reabsorption in deoxycorticosterone-treated rats.

In vitro studies of isolated, perfused, cortical collecting tubules have demonstrated that prior chronic deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) treatment increases sodium reabsorption in this nephron segment, yet sodium balance in vivo is maintained. To evaluate the effect of chronic DOCA treatment on collecting duct sodium reabsorption in vivo, we compared fractional sodium delivery (FD(Na)%) out of the superficial late distal tubule with the fraction of sodium remaining at the base and the tip of the papillary collecting duct during extracellular fluid volume expansion in untreated, salt-treated, and DOCA-salt-treated rats. In untreated rats, FD(Na)% to the distal tubule was 6.5+/-1.0%, and to the base was 8.7+/-1.6% (Delta2.2+/-0.9%, P < 0.05). FD(Na)% to the tip was 4.9+/-1.1%, significantly less than FD(Na)% to the base (Delta3.7+/-1.1%, P < 0.01). In salt-treated rats, FD(Na)% to the distal tubule was 8.3+/-0.8%, and to the base was 10.4+/-1.1%. FD(Na)% to the tip was 5.9+/-0.6%, significantly less than FD(Na)% to the base (Delta 4.6+/-1.0%, P < 0.005). In DOCA-salt-treated rats, FD(Na)% to the distal tubule was 16.1+/-2.6% and to the base was 9.5+/-1.9% (Delta 6.6+/-1.7%, P < 0.005). FD(Na)% to the tip was 5.9+/-1.2%, also significantly less than FD(Na)% to the base (Delta 3.6+/-1.1%, P < 0.01). We conclude that (a) in DOCA-salt-treated rats, sodium delivery to the end of the superficial distal tubule is greater than in untreated or salt-treated rats; (b) in DOCA-salt-treated rats, sodium delivery to the end of the superficial distal tubule is greater than to the base of the papillary collecting duct, suggesting stimulation of sodium reabsorption in the cortical and(or) outer medullary collecting duct; and (c) sodium reabsorption by the papillary collecting duct is unaffected by chronic DOCA-salt treatment in the volume-expanded rat.

Management of the patient with renovascular hypertension.

Renal artery stenosis, either fibromuscular or atheromatous, is probably the most common cause of secondary hypertension in man. Both of these diseases are active, ongoing processes that may be ameliorated but not cured by medical or surgical treatment. The clinical history and examination of the patient with hypertension may help differentiate renovascular hypertension from essential hypertension. The presence of a systolic-diastolic or continuous bruit is often an indicator of severe renal artery stenosis. Systemic hypertension is the physiologic consequence of significant renal artery stenosis. Knowledge of the basic concepts of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, as has evolved from experimental models of renovascular hypertension, forms the basis for understanding the process of evaluation and treatment of such patients. The treatment of choice for the patient with severe hypertension and a functionally significant renovascular lesion is surgical--both in terms of successful treatment of hypertension and improved long-term prognosis. Diligent periodic reevaluation of these patients as well as those with less severe hypertension who are receiving medical treatment enables the physician to select the proper management that offers optimal control of patient blood pressure and avoids target-organ damage to the kidneys, central nervous system, or cardiovascular system.

Phosphate transport in superficial and deep nephrons in phosphate-loaded rats.

We tested the hypothesis that greater phosphate delivery from deep nephrons than from superficial nephrons contributes to the addition of phosphate to the collecting system during phosphate loading. In the first group of eight anesthetized Munich-Wistar rats infused with phosphate and parathyroid hormone (PTH), fractional delivery of phosphate (FDP%) from superficial distal tubules was 56 +/- 6%, significantly less than the amount appearing in the urine, 67 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01). In the second group of six rats, we determined whether this addition of phosphate could be accounted for by a higher FDP% from the deep nephrons. Free-flow micropuncture collections were taken from deep nephrons (ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the papilla), superficial nephrons (distal tubules in the cortex), and urine (duct of Bellini). The FDP% to the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in deep nephrons was 78 +/- 10%, significantly greater than to the distal convoluted tubules in superficial nephrons, 51 +/- 6% (P less than 0.005), and the fractional excretion of phosphate in urine, 72 +/- 10% (P less than 0.05). Although a difference between FDP% in superficial and deep nephrons due to reabsorption in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle cannot be ruled out from the present data, other studies indicate that this interpretation is unlikely. We conclude that greater phosphate delivery by deep nephrons contributes to the addition of phosphate to the collecting system of phosphate-loaded rats.

Filtration dynamics in dogs: glomerular capillary pressure.

Hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillaries, the primary driving force for glomerular ultrafiltration, is directly measurable only in those species with glomeruli present on the capsular surface of the kidney. Accordingly, this crucial measurement must be made indirectly in species not so endowed, such as the dog. Several different methods have been utilized in the dog; unfortunately each is indirect. This review deals with an assessment of the following methods for the determination of glomerular capillary pressure in dogs: a) reduction of arterial pressure method; b) ureteral occlusion method; c) the Winton or venous occlusion method; d) fraction of arterial pressure method; e) back calculation from forces opposing filtration; f) sieving method; and g) single nephron occlusion of the Gertz stop-flow method. Recent studies in the dog, utilizing single nephron occlusion techniques, provide estimates of glomerular capillary pressures of approximately 60 mn Hg in the autoregulatory range of blood pressure.

Effects of long-endurance running on immune system parameters and lymphocyte function in experienced marathoners.

The extent and duration of changes in leukocyte subsets, lymphocyte subpopulations, spontaneous blastogenesis, cortisol, and catecholamines were measured in ten experienced marathoners, who ran 3 h to exhaustion in a laboratory setting. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 1 h of exercise, and 5 min, 1.5 h, 6 h, and 21 h of recovery. The 3-h endurance run was associated with significant leukocytosis, granulocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, and eosinopenia during recovery. All of these parameters except for eosinophils returned to normal by 21 h of recovery. Total lymphocyte count increased 31% at 1 h of exercise, then decreased 19% at 1.5 h of recovery when compared with baseline values. T cell count showed no significant changes, but B cell lymphocytosis was measured at 5 min and 6 h of recovery. T helper/T suppressor ratio (H/S) was significantly elevated 39% at both 1.5 h and 21 h of recovery due to the decrease in number of T suppressor cells. Spontaneous blastogenesis was significantly increased 52% by 1 h of exercise and remained elevated throughout recovery. The increase in cortisol from baseline to 1.5 h of recovery correlated positively with the increase in both total leukocyte count (r = 0.78, P = 0.008) and granulocyte count (r = 0.81, P = 0.005). Our results suggest that exhaustive endurance exercise in marathon runners is associated with many significant perturbations in immune system parameters, most of which return to normal levels at 21 h of recovery.