Drug metabolism in drug-induced liver diseases: pathogenetic role of active metabolites.

Three cases with drug-induced liver diseases (hepatitis caused by hydralasine, steatosis caused by methimazole, choletasis caused by birth control pill) were investigated with respect to their drug metabolising ability. Clinical diagnoses were based on the exclusion of other pathogenetic factors, on histological findings of liver biopsy specimens and on the clinical chemical tests. Investigation of biotransforming ability was carried out using test materials (menthol loading, antipyrine, sulfadimidine, caffeine, indocyanine green kinetics) and measurement of D-glucaric acid excretion.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of high dose furosemide in patients with chronic renal failure or nephrotic syndrome.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of repeated oral administration of furosemide were studied in patients with chronic renal failure or nephrotic syndrome using three different dosage regimens (4 x 40, 4 x 80 and 4 x 250 mg/d). Concentrations of the unchanged drug in serum and urine were measured fluorometrically. The elimination kinetics of furosemide was linear over the dose range studied.

The influence of phenobarbital on the pharmacokinetics of propranolol in pregnancy.

In 7 pregnant hypertensive patients the elimination half-life of propranolol was enhanced to 6.1 +/- 1.2 h in comparison to 4.