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C Schweizer

Publications and source records attributed to C Schweizer.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of benazepril hydrochloride in patients with major proteinuria.

We have investigated whether the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the ACE inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride are altered with proteinuria by studying 8 patients with major proteinuria of different causes who were given a single dose of 10 mg p.o. The maximum plasma concentration of benazepril was found between 0.5 and 2 h after dosing (median 1 h). Its elimination was almost complete within 6 h. Peak plasma levels of benazeprilat, the active metabolite of benazepril, were observed between 1 and 6 h (median 2.5 h). The elimination of benazeprilat from plasma was biphasic, with mean initial and terminal half-lives of 3.0 and 17.3 h, respectively. On average, the pharmacokinetic parameters of benazepril and benazeprilat in the patients did not differ from those in a historical control group of healthy volunteers, but intersubject variability in the AUC and half-lives of benazeprilat was greater in the patients. Plasma ACE was completely inhibited from 1.5 to 6 h after dosing, and at 48 h the mean inhibition was still 42%. Plasma renin showed substantial intersubject variation. Mean supine blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) was reduced from baseline by a maximum of 18/13 mm Hg at 6 h. Proteinuria was diminished after benazepril in 7 patients. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that proteinuria in the nephrotic range does not require a change in benazepril dosage.

Adult

[Inversion 8 and consecutive trisomy of region 8q22----qter].

A girl with severe mental retardation and conspicuous phenotype features is described. The chromosomal aberration consists of a partial trisomy 8q of the region 8q22----qter. Minor deletion of the terminal part of the region 8p23 must be presumed, resulting in partial monosomy of this region. Inversion of chromosome 8 was found in the father and his mother.

Adult

Assessment of vibration induced white finger: reliability and validity of two tests.

The reliability and validity of two tests (cold water and reactive hyperaemia) designed to confirm a patient's history of vibration induced white finger were studied. The cold water test is a measure of digital rewarming after hand immersion in cold water. Reactive hyperaemia consists of measuring digital rewarming after cold water immersion plus temporary ischaemia imposed on the hand. For ten weeks, ten healthy male volunteers were submitted once a week to both tests to study their reliability. The results showed a strong inter and intraindividual scattering. The mean value for the whole group, however, did not differ significantly from one week to the next. Fifty two subjects exposed to hand/arm vibration were submitted to both tests to estimate their validity. They were classified, according to their medical history, into three groups: A = no symptoms, B = tingling or numbess, or both, C = Raynaud's phenomenon. Both tests agreed with the clinical staging. For reactive hyperaemia, however, the differences between the groups were statistically significant only when the test was performed at 10 degrees C. These tests are more useful to study a group than an individual case. Time has no significant effect on the mean result of a group.

Adult

Valproic acid in childhood epilepsy: anticonvulsive efficacy in relation to its plasma levels.

Plasma levels of valproic acid were monitored for two years in 90 epileptic children. From 34 patients receiving sodium valproate as monotherapy, complete seizure control could be achieved in 28 children (82%) with a mean (+/- SD) plasma level of 65.1 +/- 20.3 micrograms/ml. In 6 patients (18%) seizures recurred. Since their plasma levels were significantly (p = 0.008) higher (91.7 +/- 35.2 micrograms/ml) than in the controlled patients, their disorder might be regraded as resistant to therapy with sodium valproate. The drug seems to be effective in patients with absences, tonic-clonic seizures and partial epilepsy. The most common combination of anticonvulsants administered was valproate/phenobarbital (n = 22). In 14 children of this group (64%) seizures were completely controlled with plasma levels of 54.6 +/- 26.5 micrograms/ml. In the 5 uncontrolled patients (23%) valproate concentrations were lower (33.8 +/- 28.2 micrograms/ml; p = 0.08). 20 children were treated with more than two anticonvulsants. This population probably represents the most severe cases. Therefore it was not surprising that only 7 patients (35%) exhibited complete seizure control with valproate plasma concentrations of 63.1 +/- 51.9 micrograms/ml. In the uncontrolled patients these levels were slightly lower (43.8 +/- 24.8 micrograms/ml). Side effects were observed in 7 patients (21%) receiving sodium valproate alone. Most common effects were increase in appetite (n = 4), and gastrointestinal disturbances (n = 2). Additionally, one patient complained about transient hair loss and one felt tired. In most cases their plasma concentrations were above 70 micrograms/ml. A therapeutic range of 40--90 micrograms/ml is postulated.

Adolescent