Monoclonal nicotine-specific antibodies reduce nicotine distribution to brain in rats: dose- and affinity-response relationships.

Vaccination against nicotine is being studied as a potential treatment for nicotine dependence. Some of the limitations of vaccination, such as variability in antibody titer and affinity, might be overcome by instead using passive immunization with nicotine-specific monoclonal antibodies. The effects of antibodies on nicotine distribution to brain were studied using nicotine-specific monoclonal antibodies (NICmAbs) with K(d) values ranging from 60 to 250 nM and a high-affinity polyclonal rabbit antiserum (K(d) = 1.6 nM). Pretreatment with NICmAbs substantially increased the binding of nicotine in serum after a single nicotine dose, reduced the unbound nicotine concentration in serum, and reduced the distribution of nicotine to brain. Efficacy was directly related to antibody affinity for nicotine. Efficacy of the highest affinity NICmAb, NICmAb311, was dose-related, with the highest dose reducing nicotine distribution to brain by 78%. NICmAb311 decreased nicotine clearance by 90% and prolonged the terminal half-life of nicotine by 120%. At equivalent doses, NICmAb311 was less effective than the higher affinity rabbit antiserum but comparable efficacy could be achieved by increasing the NICmAb311 dose. These data suggest that passive immunization with nicotine-specific monoclonal antibodies substantially alters nicotine pharmacokinetics in a manner similar to that previously reported for vaccination against nicotine. Antibody efficacy is a function of both dose and affinity for nicotine.

Factors associated with the risk of liver enzyme elevation in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a thiazolidinedione.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To characterize frequency of liver enzyme elevation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving troglitazone. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Hospital-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS: Two hundred ninety-one patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. INTERVENTION: Data from patients with an average troglitazone exposure of 412.7 +/- 255.6 days were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Enzyme elevations more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 17 patients (5.8%) and more than 3-fold elevations in 6 (2.1%). The relationship among enzyme elevation events, demographic factors, duration of troglitazone exposure, frequency of monitoring, and concurrent drugs (limited to glucose and lipid-lowering agents) was assessed by multiple logistic regression. Age was an independent predictor of risk (p=0.009), and concurrent insulin therapy approached statistical significance (p=0.051) for 1.5-fold ULN elevation in liver enzymes. Age and concurrent therapy with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors were the only significant predictors of 3-fold ULN elevations (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Several factors appear to increase the risk of enzyme elevation events in patients treated with troglitazone.

Comparison of anticoagulant effects and safety of argatroban and heparin in healthy subjects.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the relationship between dosage and coagulation parameters, as well as safety profiles, of ascending bolus and infusion dosages of argatroban versus heparin in three phase I studies. DESIGN: Two randomized, double-blind studies compared argatroban and heparin, and one open-label, dose-escalation study further evaluated argatroban. SETTING: University teaching hospital clinical research unit. PATIENTS: Healthy men (aged 22-62 yrs). INTERVENTION: In the first study, 36 subjects received an argatroban 30-, 60-, 120-, or 240-microg/kg bolus, or a heparin 30-, 60-, 120-, or 240-U/kg bolus for three subjects, then amended to 15, 30, 60, or 120 U/kg. In the second study, 37 subjects received argatroban 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 microg/kg/minute with or without a 250-microg/kg bolus, or heparin 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, or 0.30 U/kg/minute with or without a 125-U/kg bolus. In the third study (open-label), nine subjects received an argatroban 250-microg/kg bolus plus an infusion of 15, 20, 30, and 40 microg/kg/minute. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: When administered as a bolus dose in the first study, argatroban and heparin both produced dose-related increases in activated clotting time (ACT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) within 10 minutes of administration. Dissipation of anticoagulant effect was approximately 4-fold faster for argatroban than for heparin. When administered by infusion with or without a bolus in the second study, argatroban, but not heparin, produced predictable dose-related increases in ACT and aPTT that were generally consistent across both effect measures and modes of administration. Effect steady state was attained by five or more subjects per dosing group receiving argatroban (5-9) but typically two or fewer subjects per group receiving heparin (0-7). Furthermore, upon cessation of infusion, anticoagulant effects dissipated faster for argatroban (effect half-life 18-41 min) than for heparin (effect half-life 23-134 min). When argatroban was infused without a bolus, peak and effect steady-state values for ACT and aPTT generally were attained within 1-3 hours. Data from the second and third studies show that for argatroban dosages up to 40 microg/kg/minute, plasma drug concentrations attained at 4 hours of infusion increased linearly with dose, and weight-adjusted plasma clearance was dose independent. In all studies, argatroban and heparin were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Anticoagulation was more predictable with argatroban than with heparin as measured by ACT and aPTT, with comparable safety profiles.

Diabetes disease stage predicts weight loss outcomes with long-term appetite suppressants.

OBJECTIVES: Characterize degree of weight loss with stage of diabetes and describe its effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese patients with and without diabetes. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Retrospective cohort analysis from patients participating in a long-term weight management protocol using diet, exercise, behavioral modification, and appetite-suppressant therapy. Patient groups, with (n = 19) and without diabetes (n = 19) were matched for age, gender, and weight before weight loss therapy. The effect of 12 months of therapy on weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, lipid profile, and medication requirements were tested. Additionally, patients were grouped or staged based upon therapy required for control of diabetes at the beginning of weight loss intervention. Analysis of covariance described relationships between diabetes disease stage and weight loss at 12 months. RESULTS: Nondiabetic patients had greater mean reduction in BMI than the diabetic group (7.98 kg/m2 vs. 4.77 kg/m2, p<0.01). A significant linear trend (p<0.001) for decreasing weight loss with stage of diabetes was observed. Blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycemia improved significantly. The average daily glyburide-equivalent dose decreased from 9.4 to 3.0 mg (p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Patients with diabetes lost less weight than similarly obese patients without diabetes. Regardless of differential weight loss between groups, cardiovascular disease risk factors improved. Hypoglycemic medication requirements decreased with weight loss therapy. A predictive relationship may exist between diabetes disease stage before weight loss therapy and future weight loss potential.

Effect of renal function on risedronate pharmacokinetics after a single oral dose.

AIMS: To determine the relationship between risedronate pharmacokinetics and renal function. METHODS: Risedronate was administered to adult men and women (n=21) with various degrees of renal function (creatinine clearance 15-126 ml min-1 ) as a single oral dose of 30 mg. Serum samples were obtained for 72 h after dosing, and urine samples were collected for 72 h after dosing and then periodically for 6 weeks. Risedronate concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Risedronate serum concentration-time and urinary excretion rate-time profiles were analysed simultaneously using nonlinear regression. RESULTS: Renal clearance and volume of distribution were linearly related to creatinine clearance (r2=0.854, P<0.001; and r2=0.317, P<0.01, respectively). Decreases in predicted renal clearance and volume of distribution of 82 and 69%, respectively, were observed when creatinine clearance decreased from 120 to 20 ml min-1. A 64% decrease in predicted oral clearance was observed when creatinine clearance decreased from 120 to 20 ml min-1 (P=0.064). Iohexol clearance, a predictor of renal function, produced similar results to those observed with creatinine clearance. Risedronate was well tolerated by the study population. CONCLUSIONS: Risedronate renal clearance was significantly related to a decrease in renal function. There was a consistent reduction in oral clearance with a decrease in creatinine clearance. However, based on the regression analysis, generally no dosage adjustment appears to be necessary for most patients with mild or moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance >20 ml min-1 ).

Pharmacokinetics of pilocarpine in subjects with varying degrees of renal function.

Data from three separate single-center studies were combined to assess the pharmacokinetics of orally administered pilocarpine. Pilocarpine concentration-time data were used to generate a data set including 42 subjects (34 males, 8 females) with varying degrees of renal function (average of two estimated creatinine clearance rates of 10 to 112 mL/min). Age ranged from 19 to 88 years. Subjects received single oral doses (range: 2.5-20 mg) of pilocarpine. Plasma samples were collected at time 0; at 20 and 40 minutes; and at 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours following dose administration. Cmax and AUC were normalized to a 5 mg exposure in those subjects who received doses other than 5 mg. Plasma pilocarpine concentrations were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters (elimination rate constant, Cmax, tmax, AUC, Vd/F, and Cl/F) in subjects with impaired renal function were similar to results found in other pharmacokinetic studies involving normal healthy volunteers with only Cmax being significantly higher (p < 0.05). No significant regression relationships were noted between creatinine clearance and pilocarpine elimination rate constant, tmax, Vd/F, Cl/F, or AUC. Pilocarpine clearance does not appear to be impaired in patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency.

The prevalence of cardiac valvular insufficiency assessed by transthoracic echocardiography in obese patients treated with appetite-suppressant drugs.

BACKGROUND: After case reports of cardiac-valve abnormalities related to the use of appetite suppressants were published, we undertook a study to determine the prevalence of the problem using transthoracic echocardiography. METHODS: We examined patients who had taken dexfenfluramine alone, dexfenfluramine and phentermine, or fenfluramine and phentermine for various periods. We enrolled obese patients who had taken or were taking these agents during open-label trials from January 1994 through August 1997. We also recruited subjects who had not taken appetite suppressants and who were matched to the patients for sex, height, and pretreatment age and body-mass index. The presence of cardiac-valve abnormalities, defined by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as at least mild aortic-valve or moderate mitral-valve insufficiency, was determined independently by at least two cardiologists. Multivariate logistic-regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with cardiac-valve abnormalities. RESULTS: Echocardiograms were available for 257 patients and 239 control subjects. The association between the use of any appetite suppressant and cardiac-valve abnormalities was analyzed in a final matched group of 233 pairs of patients and controls. A total of 1.3 percent of the controls (3 of 233) and 22.7 percent of the patients (53 of 233) met the case definition for cardiac-valve abnormalities (odds ratio, 22.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 7.1 to 114.2; P<0.001). The odds ratio for such cardiac-valve abnormalities was 12.7 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.9 to 56.4) with the use of dexfenfluramine alone, 24.5 (5.9 to 102.2) with the use of dexfenfluramine and phentermine, and 26.3 (7.9 to 87.1) with the use of fenfluramine and phentermine. CONCLUSIONS: Obese patients who took fenfluramine and phentermine, dexfenfluramine alone, or dexfenfluramine and phentermine had a significantly higher prevalence of cardiac valvular insufficiency than a matched group of control subjects.

Accuracy of technicians versus pharmacists in checking syringes prepared for a dialysis program.

The accuracy of pharmacy technicians versus pharmacists in checking drug doses prepared in syringes for a dialysis program was studied. Three pharmacy technicians from the pharmacy of a regional kidney disease program in Minnesota participated in the study after completing a training program and after common preparation errors had been identified by pharmacists. From November 1995 to April 1996, the technicians used labels printed from a database of pharmacist-verified orders to prepare and label i.v. syringes. Four medications were used-epoetin alfa, calcitriol, heparin prepared from beef lung, and heparin prepared from porcine intestinal mucosa. Each syringe was checked by one of nine pharmacists for accuracy of dose and medication, and all errors were recorded. The technicians checked syringes prepared by other technicians and also recorded errors. Accuracy rates (percentages of syringes correctly evaluated) for pharmacists and technicians were compared. A total of 10,608 syringes were checked. Accuracy rates for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were 99.86% and 99.83%, respectively. Accuracy rates in checking syringes did not differ significantly between pharmacists and technicians in this study setting.

Assessment of doxylamine influence on mixed function oxidase activity upon multiple dose oral administration to normal volunteers.

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the influence of doxylamine and phenobarbital on antipyrine/metabolites pharmacokinetics and 6 beta-hydroxycortisol urinary excretion. This study was conducted in 48 healthy male human volunteers (16 per treatment group) using a parallel study design. Treatment groups consisted of 12.5 mg of doxylamine succinate, placebo, or 30 mg of phenobarbital administered orally every 6 h for 17 days. Results indicate that no statistically significant differences were observed between the doxylamine and placebo groups that are indicative of enzyme induction. For the phenobarbital group, a significant increase for antipyrine total (36 versus 45 mL/h/kg) and nonrenal (35 versus 44 mL/h/kg) clearances and 6 beta-hydroxycortisol excretion (338 versus 529 micrograms) and a significant decrease in the terminal exponential half-life (11 versus 9 h) of antipyrine were observed.

The effect of zileuton on antipyrine and indocyanine green disposition.

The effects of single and multiple oral doses of zileuton on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and indocyanine green were studied in 16 healthy, nonsmoking adult men by means of a double-blind, randomized, parallel placebo-controlled design. Indocyanine green disposition was not significantly altered by zileuton. Plasma antipyrine clearance declined by 20% (p < 0.0005) and 52% (p < 0.0005) after single and multiple dose zileuton exposure, respectively. Total urinary recovery of unchanged antipyrine and metabolites decreased with zileuton exposure. Selective declines from baseline of 16% (p = 0.007) and 20% (p = 0.003) after single-dose zileuton and 30% (p < 0.0005) and 43% (p < 0.0005) after multiple-dose zileuton were detected in recovery of 4-hydroxyantipyrine and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine, respectively. Urinary recovery of the N-demethylantipyrine metabolite norantipyrine and percent of conjugation of 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine were unchanged by zileuton. In conclusion, zileuton therapy has no detectable effect on indocyanine green disposition but exerts marked effects on antipyrine plasma and urine metabolite disposition.

Effects of specific antibody Fab fragments on desipramine pharmacokinetics in the rat in vivo and in the isolated, perfused liver.

Drug-specific antibody fragments, which can reverse tricyclic antidepressant toxicity in rats, represent a potential clinical treatment for tricyclic antidepressant overdose in humans. To delineate the pharmacokinetic mechanisms, we studied the effects of a high-affinity, drug-specific Fab fragment on desipramine (DMI) disposition in rats and on DMI kinetics in the isolated, perfused rat liver. These studies were performed at high DMI and Fab doses, with Fab administered at the time of peak DMI toxicity, to simulate the treatment of overdose. Rats received 20 mg/kg DMI intravenously over 30 min followed in 10 min by DMI-specific ovine polyclonal Fab (DMI-Fab) or nonspecific human Fab (control-Fab) (1.1 g/kg; molar Fab-to-DMI ratio, 0.34) intravenously over 20 min. The serum DMI concentration increased by 50-fold 5 min after DMI-Fab administration. The mean area under the serum concentration-time curve increased by more than 3-fold. The steady-state volume of distribution was decreased by 90% and total body clearance was decreased by 70% after DMI-Fab administration compared with control-Fab. Renal clearance increased by 72% after DMI-Fab and total renal excretion of DMI increased by 7-fold due to the much higher serum DMI concentration. Ninety-four percent of DMI-Fab excretion and 87% of DMI excretion occurred in the first 12 h. The percent of DMI bound in urine was markedly increased by DMI-Fab (87.1 vs. 19.1%), as was the molar ratio of DMI to DMI-Fab in urine (0.75 vs. 0.08). Isolated rat livers were perfused with DMI alone, DMI and DMI-Fab or DMI and control-Fab.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Redistribution and enhanced urinary excretion of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) in rats using HCB-specific IgG and Fab fragments.

Drug-specific antibody fragments can enhance the elimination of some drugs by redistributing drug from tissues into serum and allowing renal excretion of the drug-antibody complex. This approach could potentially be used to enhance the elimination of compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls that have very long elimination half-lives. As a first step in testing this hypothesis, the effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB)-specific antibodies and their corresponding Fab fragments on HCB disposition were studied in rats. Antibodies to HCB were produced in chickens, and the corresponding Fab fragments were produced by digestion with papain. To study antibody effects on HCB distribution, [14C]HCB (0.1 mg) was administered i.v. to rats. Two weeks later, after distribution to tissues was complete, anti-HCB IgG or control IgG was administered i.v. The serum radiolabel concentration 2 hr after IgG administration increased 185 +/- 64% in animals treated with specific antibody vs 51 +/- 19% in control animals (P < 0.001). The increase in serum radiolabel concentration was apparent within 30 min and maximal at 2 hr. To study effects on HCB excretion, anti-HCB or control Fab fragment was administered 2 weeks after [14C]HCB. Urinary HCB excretion over the next 24 hr, measured by gas chromatography, was 10-fold greater in the group treated with anti-HCB Fab (P < 0.01). These data demonstrate that anti-HCB IgG can redistribute HCB rapidly from tissues into serum and that anti-HCB Fab can enhance urinary HCB excretion. While the magnitude of these changes was small, the data suggest that increasing HCB excretion using drug-specific antibody fragments is feasible, and can serve as a model for enhancing the excretion of compounds that have very long elimination half-lives.

The disposition and protein binding of batanopride and its metabolites in subjects with renal impairment.

We have studied the disposition of batanopride and its three major metabolites (the erythro-alcohol, threo-alcohol, and N-desethyl metabolites) in 27 subjects with various degrees of renal function after intravenous infusion of a single dose of 3.6.mg.kg-1 of batanopride over 15 min. The subjects were assigned to one of three treatment groups: group 1, normal renal function (creatinine clearance > or = 75 ml.min-1 x 1.73 m-2; n = 13); group 2, moderate renal impairment (creatine clearance 30-60 ml.min-1 x 1.73 m-2; n = 8); group 3, severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < or = 30 ml.min-1 x 1.73 m-2; n = 6). The terminal half-life of batanopride was significantly prolonged from 2.7 h in group 1 to 9.9 h in group 3. The renal clearance of batanopride was significantly lower in group 3 (25 ml.min-1) compared with group 1 (132 ml.min-1). There were no differences in plasma protein binding or steady-state volume of distribution of batanopride among the groups. There were significantly lower renal clearances for all three metabolites in groups 2 and 3 compared with group 1. The half-lives of all three metabolites were significantly prolonged in group 3 compared with group 1. The dose of batanopride may need to be reduced in patients with creatinine clearances less than 30 ml.min-1 x 1.73 m-2 to prevent drug accumulation and avoid possible dose-related adverse effects.

Is the aggressive management of hyperlipidemia in nephrotic syndrome mandatory?

The development of the nephrotic syndrome is associated with a lipid profile characterized by increased total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although total high density lipoprotein (HDL) values may be in the normal range, there is frequently abnormalities of HDL subclasses, with reduction of the mature HDL2 subfraction. While these lipid changes may be considered a risk for atherosclerosis, they revert to normal with remission of the nephrotic syndrome. However, with chronic nephrotic range proteinuria, these abnormalities persist and may also be associated with increased levels of lipoprotein (a), increased levels of very light density lipoprotein and further reductions in HDL. These factors could all contribute to greater risk for atherosclerosis. Although coronary artery disease is frequently seen in patients with end-stage renal disease, and many uncontrolled studies in patients with chronic nephrotic syndrome have suggested an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, no prospective studies to evaluate relationship between lipid abnormalities and cardiac disease have been performed in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Recent experimental data have also suggested a relationship between hyperlipidemia and progressive renal injury. Unfortunately, human epidemiological data are incomplete in correlating lipid changes with renal disease in patients with chronic nephrotic syndrome. No therapeutic trials have tested whether or not pharmacologic interventions will benefit either the cardiac or renal disease that ensues in patients with chronic persistent nephrotic syndrome. Thus, considerably more data are needed to help clarify this important area.

Disposition of cefpodoxime proxetil in healthy volunteers and patients with impaired renal function.

The disposition of cefpodoxime in 24 subjects with various degrees of renal function after administration of a single oral dose of 200 mg of cefpodoxime proxetil (equivalent to 200 mg of cefpodoxime activity) was studied. Subjects were assigned to one of four groups (six per group): group I, normal renal function (creatinine clearance [CLCR], greater than ml/min); group II, mild renal impairment (CLCR, 50 to 80 ml/min); group III, moderate renal impairment (CLCR, 30 to 49 ml/min); or group IV, severe renal impairment (CLCR, 5 to 29 ml/min). Although cefpodoxime terminal elimination half-life in group I (2.55 +/- 0.25 h [mean +/- standard deviation]) was not significantly different from that in group II (3.53 +/- 0.74 h), the half-life values for group III (5.90 +/- 1.67 h) and group IV (9.80 +/- 1.21 h) were significantly prolonged compared with those of group I. The mean absorption rate constant was similar among groups and ranged from 0.68 to 0.85 h-1. All groups exhibited absorption lag-times which were comparable (0.30 to 0.41 h), and the apparent volume of distribution was similar among groups. Cefpodoxime apparent total body clearance (CLP/F) values in groups II, III, and IV (132 +/- 29, 112 +/- 41, and 55.7 +/- 9.9 ml/min, respectively) were significantly lower than that in group I (238 +/- 44 ml/min). Cefpodoxime CLP/F was positively correlated with CLCR (r2 = 0.79; P less than 0.05): CLP/F = (1.9 CLCR) + 18.4. Renal clearance also declined with decreasing renal function. Adjustments in cefpodoxime organism and on the site and severity of infection. Simulated plasma concentration-time data from this study suggest that 200 mg of cefpodoxime proxetil administered every 12 to 24 h to subjects with CLcr between 30 and 49 ml/min and 200-mg dose taken every 24 h by subjects with CLcr between 5 and 29 ml/min will maintain cefpodoxime concentration in plasma similar to those in subjects with normal renal function who receive a standard dosage mg every 12 h.

The pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and three of its metabolites in the rabbit: intravenous administration of pure metabolites.

Antipyrine (AP) is a commonly used probe of oxidative metabolism. Indirect evidence demonstrates formation rate limited disposition of its metabolites. Kinetic studies using antipyrine and its major metabolites 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (HMA), norantipyrine (NORA), and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (OHA) were completed to investigate the metabolic fate of preformed antipyrine metabolite and to demonstrate directly formation rate-limited metabolite disposition in vivo. Bolus injections of antipyrine and preformed metabolites (40-50 mg/kg) were administered to male, New Zealand white rabbits. Plasma and urine were analyzed using HPLC. These studies demonstrate that HMA, NORA, and OHA are formation rate limited in the rabbit. NORA appears to undergo further extensive oxidative and conjugative metabolism. Unknown additional peaks were detected in urine after NORA dosing but not after HMA or OHA administration. Mass spectroscopy of the unknown HPLC eluents identified potential structures of these NORA metabolites.

Quantifying hepatic function in the presence of liver disease with phenazone (antipyrine) and its metabolites.

The disposition of phenazone (antipyrine), a low extraction compound with low protein binding, is known to be altered in the presence of various types of hepatic dysfunction. As such, its pharmacokinetics may be useful in the objective characterisation of altered liver function. Understanding the known effects of various liver disease states upon the disposition of this probe may provide insight into future applications. This article provides a review of background information about normal plasma phenazone pharmacokinetics, urinary metabolite disposition and tabulations of reported total body clearances of the drug in the presence of cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis and cholestasis in humans. An estimate is made of the sensitivity and specificity of phenazone testing for the verification of the presence of cirrhosis based on this compiled literature.