Risks and synergies from drug interactions.

AIM: To review what is known from in vitro and in vivo studies about the interactions, both potentially beneficial and potentially harmful, of antiretroviral agents with each other and with other classes of drugs. INTERACTIONS WITH NUCLEOSIDE ANALOGUES: Some interactions between nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors and between nucleoside analogues and HIV protease inhibitors result in greater antiretroviral activity (e.g. zalcitabine with saquinavir). Others may increase the risks of toxicity and there are a number of combinations of nucleoside agents with other drugs that should be used with caution or avoided completely. INTERACTIONS WITH PROTEASE INHIBITORS: These drugs are metabolized by cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 in the liver; because they have the potential to inhibit this enzyme they may interact with many other drugs that are metabolized by this pathway. Ritonavir also inhibits other cytochrome P450 enzymes and so interacts with numerous drugs from a range of classes. Potentially beneficial interactions between protease inhibitors include the increase in saquinavir levels brought about by ritonavir. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of additive and synergistic interactions between antiretroviral agents should facilitate development of therapeutic regimens with prolonged antiretroviral activity. Thorough investigation of possibly harmful interactions with co-administered drugs and education of clinicians and patients about the risks of these interactions is required.

Relationship between body weight, body surface area and serum zidovudine pharmacokinetic parameters in adult, male HIV-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a simple relationship between body weight or body surface area (BSA) and serum zidovudine pharmacokinetic parameters in patients receiving oral zidovudine. DESIGN: Single-dose, pharmacokinetic study. PATIENTS: Fifty-three asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV-infected men (CD4+ cell count < 500 x 10(6)/l) participated in the study. Results of renal function and haematology tests were within normal limits and all hepatic function tests were up to three times the upper limit of normal. Patients received 200 mg oral zidovudine and serial blood samples were collected for 4 h (18 patients) or 8 h (35 patients). Serum zidovudine concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (12 patients) or radioimmunoassay (41 patients). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental methods. The relationships between body weight or BSA and maximum serum concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), apparent serum clearance (CL/F), and apparent terminal volume of distribution (Vz/F) were determined by simple least-squares linear regression. RESULTS: There were no significant relationships between either body weight or BSA and Cmax, AUC, Vz/F (corrected for weight), and clearance (P > 0.07; R2 < 0.06 for all comparisons). A significant positive association between Vz/F, uncorrected for weight, and either weight (P = 0.011; R2 = 0.121) or BSA (P = 0.022; R2 = 0.098) was observed. The interindividual coefficients of variation of CL/F and Vz/F values were only marginally reduced when the parameters were corrected for weight (31.3 versus 30.8% and 28.0 versus 26.0% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is little or no linear association between either body weight or BSA and observed serum zidovudine concentrations following administration of 200 mg zidovudine in adult male patients who are within 20% of their ideal weight.

Cations in the didanosine tablet reduce ciprofloxacin bioavailability.

The effect of the magnesium-aluminum cations contained in didanosine chewable tablets on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics was evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers. The study was designed as a randomized, balanced, open, two-period, two-treatment crossover trial with a 7-day washout period between treatments. In one phase, subjects received a single 750 mg ciprofloxacin tablet alone. In the didanosinecation regimen, subjects received two didanosine-placebo tablets every 12 hours for two doses. On day 2, they received two didanosine-placebo tablets immediately followed by a single 750 mg ciprofloxacin tablet. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours after administration of each ciprofloxacin dose. The average maximum concentration of ciprofloxacin alone was 3.38 +/- 0.63 (SD) micrograms/ml compared with 0.25 +/- 0.21 (SD) micrograms/ml when ciprofloxacin was administered with the didanosine placebo (p < 0.0001). The mean (+/- SD) area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last measurable concentration for ciprofloxacin alone was 15.50 +/- 2.69 micrograms.hr/ml compared with 0.26 +/- 0.21 micrograms.hr/ml when ciprofloxacin was coadministered with the didanosine-placebo (p < 0.0001). The mean time to maximum concentration of ciprofloxacin alone decreased from 1.56 +/- 0.62 to 0.75 +/- 0.38 hours with buffer administration (p = 0.0012). The simultaneous administration of ciprofloxacin and didanosine should be avoided.

Evaluation of the in vivo effect of naproxen on zidovudine pharmacokinetics in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if therapeutic doses of naproxen affect the in vivo disposition of zidovudine. METHODS: This was designed as a randomized, two-period, two-treatment, crossover study. The patients were 12 men infected with human immunodeficiency virus who had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex. On two separate occasions 14 days apart, patients received either zidovudine alone (200 mg every 4 hours while awake) or zidovudine (200 mg every 4 hours while awake) and naproxen (500 mg every 12 hours for 4 days). On the morning of the fifth day, each patient received the final dose of each regimen and blood and urine were serially collected for 8 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters (area under the serum concentration-time curve [AUC], maximum plasma concentration, terminal half-life, renal clearance, and urinary recovery) were assessed for zidovudine and its glucuronide metabolite. MAIN RESULTS: Naproxen had no significant effect (< 10% difference between treatment means, p > 0.15, ANOVA) on the above pharmacokinetic parameters for both zidovudine and its metabolite. Although the power of the study to detect these small differences was < 80% at the 5% significance level, differences ranging from 12.6% for AUC to 38.8% for urinary recovery could be detected with 80% power. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic doses of naproxen do not significantly affect the pharmacokinetic disposition of zidovudine.

Pharmacokinetics of single and chronic dose zidovudine in two HIV positive patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

The effect of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on zidovudine (ZDV) elimination was studied in two HIV-positive men. Serum and dialysate samples were collected after a single oral dose of 200 mg (patient 1) or 100 mg (patient 2) of ZDV, and again on at least one occasion during chronic therapy (100 mg every 8 h). Concentrations of ZDV and its glucuronide metabolite (GZDV) were measured by radioimmunoassay. ZDV serum half-lives on day 1 were 7.9 h (patient 1) and 2.6 h (patient 2). The apparent GZDV half-lives on day 1 were 19.9 h (patient 1) and 7.1 h (patient 2), with resultant accumulation of metabolite (up to 36 micrograms/ml) during chronic therapy. At 14 h following single dose, 8.2 +/- 0.4% of dose was recovered in dialysate as GZDV; ZDV accounted for less than 0.6% of dose recovered in dialysate after both single and multiple dose. After the initial dwell (tau) following single dose, peritoneal clearances of ZDV were 4.3 ml/min (tau = 4 h, patient 1) and 5.9 ml/min (tau = 5 h, patient 2), and GZDV clearances were 6.7 and 5.1 ml/min, respectively. ZDV serum protein binding was less than 10%. The small amount of unchanged ZDV removed by CAPD suggests that no supplemental doses are needed in HIV patients undergoing CAPD.

Safe use of the CXCR4 inhibitor ALX40-4C in humans.

ALX40-4C is a small peptide inhibitor of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 that can inhibit X4 strains of HIV-1. Prior to the discovery of chemokine receptors as the HIV coreceptors, ALX40-4C was used in phase I/II clinical trials to evaluate its therapeutic potential against HIV-1, making ALX40-4C the first anticoreceptor inhibitor to be tested in humans against HIV-1. Patients in the highest dose groups achieved ALX40-4C levels above the effective concentration of the drug for nearly the entire 1-month treatment period. ALX40-4C was well tolerated by 39 of 40 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, despite the critical role of CXCR4 in normal development and hematopoiesis. No significant or consistent reductions in viral load were observed, but only 12 of the enrolled patients harbored virus types that used CXCR4. We also found that ALX40-4C interacts with the second extracellular loop of CXCR4 and inhibits infection exclusively by blocking direct virus-CXCR4 interactions.

Eflornithine for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a preliminary review.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Eflornithine is an antiprotozoal agent active against P. carinii. It acts by inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase, an enzyme that is essential for cellular function. The drug is initially administered intravenously, followed by oral therapy. Eflornithine has been used on a compassionate basis in AIDS patients with PCP who were intolerant of or unresponsive to traditional agents. Overall, the response rate has been about 35%; however, conclusions are difficult to make since patients had different stages of disease and received treatment for varying periods of time. Side effects include depression of bone marrow function, diarrhea, hearing loss, seizures, alterations in liver function tests, and rash. While the need for safer and more efficacious antipneumocystis drugs grows, widespread use of seemingly promising agents should be based on well-conducted clinical trials.

A profile of multiple myeloma cases (study of eleven cases).

From January 1984 to March 1987, eleven cases of multiple myeloma were registered in the Department of Radiotherapy, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, giving an incidence of more than three cases per year. The cases had age distribution ranging 40-90 years, the youngest being 40 years and oldest 85 years. The majority were in their sixties. Majority were males. Moderate aches and pain either all over the body or confined to a region along with lethargy and weakness were the commonest presenting symptoms. Lytic bone lesions was the commonest complication. One case had cranial nerve involvement.

Management of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS.

A case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is described, as well as the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of the disease. In July 1987 a 38-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital because of confusion, disorientation, and headache. His medical history was notable for a positive human immunodeficiency virus test. Culture of the cerebrospinal fluid was positive for Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient was started on amphotericin B 16 mg/day (0.3 mg/kg/day) intravenously and flucytosine 2 g every six hours (150 mg/kg/day) orally. Despite premedication with diphenhydramine and acetaminophen, he experienced rigors that were treated with hydrocortisone and meperidine. Three weeks later he was discharged on flucytosine 2 g orally every six hours and amphotericin B 50 mg intravenously every other day. One week later the patient developed fever and chills; blood cultures were positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and his peripheral leucocyte count was 1.8 X 10(3)/cu mm. Flucytosine was discontinued, and he was treated with intravenous nafcillin while remaining on amphotericin B. In October the patient complained of nausea, vomiting, weakness, and agitation. A CSF latex agglutination titer for cryptococcal antigen was 1:32. He was treated with amphotericin B 50 mg daily until symptoms resolved and then continued on amphotericin B 50 mg twice weekly. Cryptococcosis is the most common life-threatening fungal infection among AIDS patients. In contrast to immunocompetent hosts, this population invariably develops disseminated disease, with 85% having meningeal involvement. The most effective therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS has not been established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lack of gender effect on ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in humans.

The influence of gender on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of oral ciprofloxacin was investigated in a parallel designed study in 24 healthy, fasted volunteers. Ciprofloxacin (750 mg) was administered as a single tablet to 10 women and 14 men. All subjects were Caucasian except for one African American man. The mean age was 36 years for men and 33 years for women. Women received the drug during the nonmenstruating phase of their menstrual cycle and were not taking oral contraceptives at the time of the study. Plasma samples were collected over a 24 h period and assayed by h.p.l.c. The 90% confidence limits for the ratio of geometric means of maximum plasma concentration, apparent terminal half-life, and apparent oral plasma clearance (corrected for body weight) were between 80% and 125%, and those for the area under the plasma concentration-time curve were 71% and 101%. Results suggest that there were no gender-related differences in ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in men and nonmenstruating women of middle age.

Overview of the immune and hematopoietic systems.

Current knowledge of the immune and hematopoietic systems is reviewed. All blood cells are derived from the totipotent stem cell, also known as the pluripotent stem cell. The differentiation of pluripotent peripheral stem cells into blood cells is controlled by a variety of biologic response modifiers, including colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and interleukins. Among the known CSFs are stem cell growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage CSF, multilineage CSF (interleukin-3), granulocyte CSF, macrophage CSF, and erythropoietin. CSFs are categorized as class I (those that stimulate the production of several types of blood cells; also called pluripotent) and class II (those that stimulate only one cell line; also called unipotent). Effects of CSFs can be studied using laboratory tests of colony-forming-unit activity. Pathogens entering the body through damaged skin or mucous membranes are met with both a cellular response (neutrophils, macrophages, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells) and a humoral response (antibodies and complement). There is interplay between these two arms of the immune system to defend against foreign antigens. This interplay can occur by cell-to-cell contact and by cytokines. Hematopoietic and immune cells of the body are produced and destroyed under precise control of many different biologic response modifiers, including the colony-stimulating factors, interleukins, and interferons.

Effect of fluconazole on zidovudine pharmacokinetics in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

The effect of a therapeutic dose of fluconazole on the disposition of zidovudine was evaluated in 12 men infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The study was designed as a randomized, two-period, two-treatment, crossover trial. On two occasions, 21 days apart, patients received either zidovudine alone or zidovudine (each, 200 mg every 8 h) and fluconazole (400 mg daily) for 7 days. Fluconazole coadministration decreased (P < .001) the apparent oral serum clearance of zidovudine by 43% and the apparent oral formation clearance to zidovudine glucuronide (GZDV) by 48%, resulting in increases (P < .002) in the area under the serum concentration time curve (74%), the maximum serum concentration (84%), and the terminal half-life (128%) of zidovudine. The molar ratio of GZDV to zidovudine recovered in urine was reduced by 34% with fluconazole (P < .001). These pharmacokinetic changes suggest that 400 mg of fluconazole inhibited the conversion of zidovudine to GZDV. Patients receiving this combination should be monitored for the development of zidovudine-related adverse reactions.

Effect of antacids in didanosine tablet on bioavailability of isoniazid.

The antacids in two didanosine placebo tablets had no significant effect on the plasma pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of 300 mg of isoniazid administered to 12 healthy volunteers. These results suggest that isoniazid bioavailability will be unaffected by the antacids in didanosine tablets when the two medications are administered simultaneously to human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients.

Tricyclic anti-depressant induced mania.

The authors report four cases of Monopolar Depressed patients who developed manic features for the first time while on tricyclic antidepressant therapy. The phenomenon is viewed as tricyclic antidepressant induced mania. The manic symptoms occurred late in therapy, with moderate doses of tricyclic antidepressants (125-150 mg per day) and were easily controlled with antipsychotic medication. Factors relating to age of patients, metabolic products of tricyclic antidepressants and central nor-adrenergic and dopaminergic systems are considered important and their role has been discussed.

The influence of chronic administration of calcium carbonate on the bioavailability of oral ciprofloxacin.

Six healthy male volunteers participated in a two-period, two-treatment study to determine the effect of chronic calcium carbonate administration on ciprofloxacin bioavailability. There was a mean reduction of 40% in Cmax and 43% in AUC when calcium carbonate was administered with ciprofloxacin, compared with ciprofloxacin alone (P < 0.05). There were no changes in either half-life or tmax. It is therefore recommended that patients being treated with ciprofloxacin for serious infections refrain from ingesting calcium supplements. If this is not possible, administration of ciprofloxacin 2 h before ingestion of the supplement is suggested.

Pharmacokinetics of simultaneously administered zidovudine and didanosine in HIV-seropositive male patients.

Our objective was to determine whether a pharmacokinetic interaction exists between zidovudine and didanosine when they are coadministered. This was designed as a randomized, three-period, three-treatment, six-sequence, crossover study with a 1-week washout period between treatments. The patients were six men infected with human immunodeficiency virus who were asymptomatic. On three separate occasions, patients received zidovudine alone (200 mg every 8 h) for 3 days, didanosine alone (200 mg every 12 h) for 3 days, or zidovudine and didanosine for 3 days. On the fourth day, each patient received the final dose of each regimen, and blood and urine were serially collected for 8 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters were assessed for zidovudine, its glucuronide metabolite (GZDV), and didanosine. Coadministration of zidovudine had no significant effect on didanosine pharmacokinetic parameters (< 12% difference between treatment means, p > 0.1). Coadministration of didanosine did not significantly alter zidovudine pharmacokinetic parameters but did cause statistically significant increases in the renal and apparent formation clearances of GZDV (18.5% and 30.5% difference between the treatment means, respectively, p < 0.025). Therapeutic doses of zidovudine did not alter didanosine pharmacokinetic parameters. Coadministration of didanosine did not affect zidovudine parameters but did cause small alterations in GZDV pharmacokinetic values. These changes are unlikely to be clinically significant.

Effect of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on absorption of ciprofloxacin in normal volunteers.

Cations such as magnesium and aluminum significantly impair the absorption of ciprofloxacin. Twelve healthy adult male volunteers participated in this four-way crossover study to investigate the effects of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on the absorption of ciprofloxacin. Doses of ciprofloxacin (500 mg) were given 7 days apart and after an overnight fast. Dose 1 was administered alone (regimen A). The subjects then received either a ferrous sulfate tablet (325 mg three times a day; regimen B) or a once-daily multivitamin with zinc (regimen C) for 7 days; dose 2 of ciprofloxacin was then given with the last dose of regimen B or C. Subjects were crossed over to the alternate regimen for 7 days, and dose 3 of ciprofloxacin was again administered with the last dose of regimen B or C. After a 7-day washout, dose 4 of ciprofloxacin was given (regimen D). Ciprofloxacin concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The areas under the concentration-time curve (AUCs) of ciprofloxacin for regimens A and D were not significantly different (14.5 +/- 2.3 versus 15.7 +/- 2.8 micrograms.h/ml, mean +/- standard deviation). The AUCs for regimen B (5.4 +/- 1.7 micrograms.h/ml) and regimen C (11.3 +/- 2.4 micrograms.h/ml) were significantly different from the AUCs for regimens A and D. Peak concentrations of ciprofloxacin with regimen B were below the MIC for 90% of strains of many organisms normally considered susceptible. Ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc significantly impaired the absorption of ciprofloxacin. The effect of ferrous sulfate is likely to be clinically significant; the responsible component of multivitamins with zinc requires additional study.