Intestinal barrier dysfunction in liver cirrhosis assessed by iohexol test.

OBJECTIVE: To study gut barrier function in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) by evaluating the intestinal permeability (IP) and its relationship with the severity and etiology of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 31 patients with LC and 25 healthy controls. Child-Pugh score was used for evaluation of the LC severity. IP was assessed by the rise in levels of iohexol, which was administered orally (25 mL, 350 mg/mL) 2 h after breakfast. Three and six hours later serum (SIC mg/L) and urine (UIC g/mol) iohexol concentrations were determined by a validated HPLC-UV technique. RESULTS: Patients with LC had significantly higher mean SIC value compared with control group at 3 h (2.05 ± 1.67 vs. 1.25 ± 1.41 mg/L, p=0.021, as well as at 6 h (2.20 ± 2.65 vs. 1.11 ± 1.06 mg/L, p=0.001) after ingestion. No significant difference was found in mean SIC value of patients at 3 and 6 h. 23% of the patients had an increased IP. The mean iohexol urine recovery of patients was similar to that of the controls both at 3 h and at 6 h. Mean SIC values were significantly higher in patients with advanced Child C class than in healthy controls or the subgroup with Child B class, both at 3 h (2.54 ± 1.95 mg/L vs. 1.11 ± 1.06 mg/L, p=0.007) or (2.57 ± 1.85 mg/L vs. 1.35±1.32 mg/L, p=0.005) and at 6 h (2.57 ± 1.85 mg/L vs. 1.25 ± 1.40 mg/L, p=0.002) or 2.54 ± 1.95 mg/L vs. 1.07 ± 0.35 mg/L, p=0.02). Cirrhotic patients with ascites had significantly higher SIC in comparison with the controls, both at 3 h (2.31 ± 1.74 vs. 1.25 ± 1.41 mg/, p=0.009) and at 6 h (2.20 ± 1.87 vs. 1.11 ± 1.06 mg/l, p=0.007). In the subgroup of patients with alcoholic LC, the mean SIC values at 3 and 6 h (2.29 ± 1.80, 2.33 ± 1.85 mg/L, respectively) were significantly higher (p= 0.016, p=0.003) compared to the control group (1.25 ± 1.41, 1.11 ± 1.06 mg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased IP is found in 23% of cirrhotic patients. Permeability alterations are significantly more pronounced in patients with advanced LC with the presence of ascites and in those with alcoholic etiology.

Preliminary report on the effect of xenoperfusion with human blood on cyclosporin A metabolism and cytochrome-P-4503A4-mRNA expression in a pig liver perfusion model.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the effect of ischemia/reperfusion with xenogenic blood on function and gene expression of CYP3A4, the enzyme largely responsible for the metabolism of the immunosuppressants Cyclosporin A (CsA) and Tacrolimus. DESIGN AND METHODS: In a pig liver perfusion model, we have compared the effect of perfusion (3 h) after 20 h cold storage, with either pig or human blood on CsA metabolism and CYP3A4-mRNA expression. mCYP3A4-mRNA was quantified by RT-PCR, CsA and its major metabolites AM1, AM9, AM4N by RP-HPLC. IL-6 served as inflammation marker, GLDH and ALT to estimate tissue damage. RESULTS: Inflammatory response and tissue damage were more extensive during xenoperfusion. CYP3A4 expression decreased similarly during xenogenic and allogenic perfusion. CsA conversion to its metabolites was also comparable during xeno- and alloperfusion. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence that during the early reperfusion period pig liver CYP3A4 is severely affected if the organ is xenoperfused with human blood in comparison with alloperfusion.

Relationships between carbamazepine-diol, carbamazepine-epoxide, and carbamazepine total and free steady-state concentrations in epileptic patients: the influence of age, sex, and comedication.

Steady-state plasma carbamazepine (CBZ), carbamazepine-epoxide (CBZE), and carbamazepine-diol (CBZD) concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography in 435 specimens divided into two groups: CBZ monotherapy (n = 78) and CBZ polytherapy (n = 357). Distributions of concentrations of CBZ and its metabolites were derived, their protein binding investigated, and the differences of concentration/dose (mumol/L/mg/kg/day or 1/clearance) ratios were calculated as a measure for the influence of sex, age, and comedication on CBZ metabolism. Concentrations of CBZ ranged from 2.5 to 82.9 mumol/L (mean +/- SD, 22.3 +/- 10.9 mumol/L), 73% being within the therapeutic range (17-51 mumol/L), 24% being less than the therapeutic range, and 3% greater than the therapeutic range. Concentrations of CBZE ranged from 0.85 to 16.6 mumol/L (mean +/- SD, 5.17 +/- 2.56 mumol/L), and those of CBZD were between 0.77 and 36.4 mumol/L (mean +/- SD, 11.3 +/- 5.4 mumol/L). A multiplicative regression best fitted the concentration/dose plots of CBZ and CBZE and an exponential regression for CBZD. Dose correlated best with the second biotransformation product, CBZD. Free fractions were 0.22 +/- 0.03 for CBZ, 0.40 +/- 0.06 for CBZE, and 0.68 +/- 0.11 for CBZD. Sex was found to be of minor importance for CBZ disposition. A gradual, high-amplitude age increase of CBZ dose ratio was observed in the monotherapy group, with global difference of approximately 3.6 times, while CBZE dose ratio increased approximately 2-fold, and CBZD dose ratio increased to the smallest extent of 1.5 times. In the polytherapy group, a smaller global age increase for CBZ dose ratio of 3.4 times was found, but the respective increase for dose ratios of metabolites was greater compared with the monotherapy patients: 2.3 times for CBZE and 1.8 times for CBZD. Comedication of other antiepileptic drugs induced significant decrease of CBZ dose ratio only, but no changes of dose ratios of the metabolites were registered. The influence of valproic acid was represented in a particular pattern. We conclude that these findings could provide valuable information for CBZ metabolism and disposition in epileptic patients with respect to the efforts to ensure the best possible individualization of CBZ therapy.

Valproic acid-carbamazepine interaction: is valproic acid a selective inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase?

Steady state plasma carbamazepine (CBZ), carbamazepine epoxide (CBZE), and carbamazepine diol (CBZD) concentrations were quantified by HPLC in 121 specimens obtained from two groups of epileptic patients: 78 receiving CBZ monotherapy (I), and 43 receiving CBZ and valproic acid (VPA) (II). The differences of drug/metabolite ratios and concentration/dose (mumol/L/mg/kg/day or 1/clearance) ratios were calculated as a measure for the influence of VPA on CBZ metabolism. Results as means +/- SD were CBZ/CBZE 5.85 +/- 3.91 (I) vs. 4.22 +/- 1.57 (II), p < 0.02; CBZ/CBZD 2.94 +/- 1.94 (I) vs. 2.82 +/- 1.15 (II); CBZE/CBZD 0.53 +/- 0.24 (I) vs. 0.71 +/- 0.32 (II), p < 0.001. Concentration/dose ratios: CBZ 2.32 +/- 1.58 (I) vs. 3.04 +/- 1.41 (II), p < 0.05; CBZE 0.41 +/- 0.20 (I) vs. 0.73 +/- 0.28 (II), p < 0.001; CBZD 0.82 +/- 0.35 (I) vs. 1.22 +/- 0.70 (II), p < 0.001. Drug/metabolite relationship data seem to support the concept for VPA as a selective inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase, but concentration/dose ratios indicate a reduced clearance for the parent drug, and especially for its two metabolites. This latter finding is in a controversy with the former concept. In addition, a considerable age-dependency of the influence of VPA on CBZ metabolism was found: compared to monotherapy, drug/metabolite and concentration/dose ratios were most changed in children. We assume that VPA is probably not a selective inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase, and affects nonspecifically all steps of the epoxide-diol pathway of CBZ metabolism.

Simultaneous liquid-chromatographic determination of some bronchodilators, anticonvulsants, chloramphenicol, and hypnotic agents, with Chromosorb P columns used for sample preparation.

We describe a simple liquid-chromatographic system for simultaneously measuring bronchodilators, anticonvulsants, hypnotics, and chloramphenicol. Use in therapeutic drug monitoring includes determination of theophylline, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ethosuximide, primidone, phenobarbital, phenacemide, phenytoin, mephenytoin, nirvanol, and carbamazepine and its bioactive metabolites within 13 min. In the "toxicology mode" theophylline, caffeine, barbital, butabarbital, pentobarbital, amobarbital, secobarbital, primidone, phenobarbital, methylprylon, glutethimide, methaqualone, phenytoin, mephenytoin, nirvanol, and carbamazepine and its bioactive metabolites are resolved within 17 min. A reversed-phase C8 column (5-microns particles) is used, with acetonitrile/water (20/80 by vol) as mobile phase. The drugs are extracted from 50 microL of serum with use of a Chromosorb P microcolumn and chloroform/isopropanol (6/1 by vol). The drugs are quantified by absorbance at 208 nm, with tolylphenobarbital as internal standard. Lower limits of detection varied from 0.05 to 0.1 mg/L, analytical recovery from 94% to 106%; CVs were less than 5.6% within run, less than 6.9% between runs.