European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

The influence of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of endralazine was studied in 12 patients; 4 patients on regular haemodialysis therapy (creatinine clearance less than 5 ml/min) and 8 patients with varying degrees of renal impairment (creatinine clearance 11–52 ml/min). Following an oral dose of 10 mg endralazine the mean terminal elimination half-life (βt1/2) in the dialysis sub-group was prolonged at 7.1 h (range 3.3 to 14 h), compared to 3.6 h in the other renal patients (and compared to 2.3 h in hypertensive patients with normal renal function). After one week's therapy with 10 mg B.D. endralazine in the 8 patients with moderate renal impairment there was a significant increase in βt1/2 to 8.6 h but there was no significant change in the area under the drug concentration-time curve and no evidence of drug accumulation. In this study those patients with the poorest renal function had the longest βt1/2 after acute dosing. There was a significant correlation between creatinine clearance and acute βt1/2 but there was considerable variability in individual patients and, even with severe degrees of renal impairment, major dose adjustments do not appear necessary.

To describe patients initiating dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and measure persistence with DMF, discontinuation, and switching in treatment-naïve DMF patients and patients switching to DMF from other multiple sclerosis disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). A population-based cohort study of all Stockholm County residents initiating DMF from 9 May 2014 until 31 May 2017. All data were derived from a regional database that collects individual-level data on healthcare and drug utilization of all residents. The study outcomes were persistence with DMF and DMF discontinuation and switching to other DMTs. Persistence was measured as the number of days until either DMF discontinuation (treatment gap ≥ 60 days) or switching to another DMT. The study included 400 patients (median follow-up = 2.5 years). The majority had previously been treated with other DMTs (61%). Throughout the follow-up period, 124 patients (31%) discontinued DMF and 114 patients (29%) switched treatment. Overall, 34% of patients initiating DMF stopped treatment within 1 year and only 43% of patients remained on DMF at 2 years from treatment initiation. DMF had a rapid market uptake likely due to high expectations held by both patients and clinicians. However, persistence with DMF in routine clinical practice was found to be low.

The effects of metropolol (beta1-selective), propranolol (nonselective) and clonidine (central alpha-stimulant) on plasma norepinephrine, blood pressure and heart rate were assessed at rest, during isometric work and dynamic exercise in 15 patients with moderate hypertension. Metroprolol resulted in a lower diastolic blood pressure during isometric and dynamic exercise than propranolol, which was paralleled by a lower plasma norepinephrine level during dynamic work; both beta-adrenergic blocking compounds resulted in a lower heart rate in all test situations than that obtained with clonidine; clonidine produced similar control of diastolic blood pressure to that obtained with the beta-adrenergic blocking agents, but did not clearly attenuate the systolic blood pressure response to dynamic exercise. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations tended to be lowest following clonidine, especially during dynamic work. The findings support the hypothesis that the central action of clonidine inhibits peripheral release of norepinephrine, but is insufficient to attenuate cardiac stimulation by physical exercise. The fact that propranolol caused higher plasma norepinephrine concentrations than metoprolol during exercise may explain the difference in the blood pressure responses during exercise.

New evidence suggests that dysregulation of adipocytokines caused by excess adiposity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various obesity comorbidities. Our aim in this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on serum levels of leptin and adiponectin. We searched Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ISI Web of Science from inception up to July 2019. Mean difference for leptin and adiponectin were calculated by subtracting the change from baseline in each study group. Summary estimates for the overall effect of ALA on serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations were calculated using random effects model. Results were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Between-study heterogeneity was examined using the I2 statistics. Eight studies were included in systematic review and seven studies in meta-analysis. The overall effect suggested a significant decrement in serum leptin concentrations (WMD = − 3.63; 95% CI, − 5.63, − 1.64 μg/ml; I2 = 80.7%) and a significant increase in serum levels of adiponectin (WMD = 1.98 μg/ml; 95% CI, 0.92, 3.04; I2 = 95.7%). Subgroup analyses based on age showed a significant reduction in leptin levels only in younger adults, and subgroup analysis based on duration indicated in studies with a duration of more than 8 weeks adiponectin levels increased significantly and leptin levels decreased significantly. Our results revealed ALA decreased leptin and increased adiponectin especially in studies lasted more than 8 weeks. We still need more studies with different ALA dose, intervention duration, and separately on male and female.

Terbutaline in plasma was determined in three groups of women by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eight women received a single i.v. dose of 0.25 mg terbutaline sulphate during pregnancy and 3–6 months after delivery. Mean plasma clearance was 29% higher during pregnancy than after delivery. There was a subsequent decrease in mean terminal half-life from 5.3 to 3.7 h and in mean residence time from 5.3 to 3.4 h. There was no change in volume of distribution. A second group of pregnant women in premature labour (n=8) received oral terbutaline 5 mg t.d.s. The dosing was repeated after delivery. The mean steady state plasma concentration of terbutaline was about 30% lower during pregnancy than after delivery. A third group of women in preterm labour (n=8) was treated with an i.v. infusion of terbutaline. The concentrations of terbutaline found on cessation of uterine contractions ranged between 12.8 and 31.5 ng/ml. At present there is no basis for formulation of a “therapeutic plasma level” of terbutaline for the treatment of preterm labour.

The role of angiotensin II (AII) in Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) production following furosemide has been examined in a placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Furosemide 20 mg was injected intravenously in eight hypertensive subjects already treated with oral captopril 25 mg or a matching placebo. Urinary excretion of 6-keto-PGF1α (a metabolite of PGI2) and PGE2, PRA and AII was increased following furosemide without captopril pretreatment. The rises in urinary 6-keto-PGF1α and PGE2, and plasma AII after furosemide were prevented by the captopril pretreatment. Urinary volume, sodium and furosemide were not affected by captopril. The data indicate that the effect of furosemide on PGI2 production, as reflected by the urinary excretion of 6-keto-PGF1α, was mediated by an action of AII.