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L Rodrigo

Publications and source records attributed to L Rodrigo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Infliximab improves quality of life in the short-term in patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of infliximab on quality of life in a series of patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was made. A total of 25 patients with single or multiple draining abdominal or perianal fistulas were selected for the study. All received an intravenous infusion of infliximab at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight in weeks 0, 2, and 6. The clinical activity was calculated every two weeks over a 10-week follow-up. HRQOL (SF-36 and IBDQ scores) were compared at baseline and at weeks 4 and 10. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent of patients had a clinical response to treatment with infliximab, with complete closure of fistulas. The mean values of CDAI decreased during follow-up, with a significant difference between weeks 0 and 10 (p < 0.01). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), as measured by means of SF-36, showed an overall improvement in the physical domain (PCS) after 4 and 10 weeks (p < 0.05). An increase was also observed in IBDQ overall score on comparing the results obtained at week 0 and week 4 (p < 0.01). The social functioning domain of IBDQ was not significantly changed with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with infliximab in active fistulizing Crohn's disease results in a significant increase in the quality of life of patients at short-term.

Adult↗

Retreatment and maintenance therapy with infliximab in fistulizing Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Infliximab has clearly demonstrated its efficacy in the short-term treatment of fistulizing Crohn's disease. We present here the results of retreatment and long-term maintenance therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty one consecutive patients with active fistulizing Crohn's disease, in whom previous treatments had failed, were treated with infliximab. All patients received as the initial treatment of 5 mg/kg i.v. infusions (weeks 0, 2, and 6). Those patients who failed to respond after the initial cycle (group 1, n = 25), or those who relapsed after having responded (group 2, n = 13), received retreatment with three similar doses (weeks 0,2, and 6). Those who responded to retreatment were included in a long-term maintenance programme (n = 44), with repeated doses (5 mg/kg i.v. infusions) every eight weeks for 1-2 years. RESULTS: In the initial treatment 56% of the patients responded partially; this response being complete in 44%. In the retreatment, 28% of group 1 (non-responders) presented a complete response, compared to 77% in group 2 (relapsers) (p < 0.0001). In the maintenance treatment, the global response was 88% (39/44). The mean number of doses per patient was 4.4 +/- 2 (range 1-9) with a duration of 36 +/- 12 weeks (range 8-72). Adverse effects were not significantly increased in either treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Both retreatment and long-term maintenance therapy with infliximab, are highly effective and well tolerated in fistulizing Crohn's disease patients.

Adolescent↗

Diverse clinical presentations of celiac disease in the same family.

We performed a family study to evaluate a total of 34 extended family members (8 siblings, 23 children and nephews, and 3 grandchildren) of an adult patient with celiac disease (CD), a 58- year-old male with severe neurologic involvement manifested as myoclonias. We found 3 other members affected with CD (a 44-year old sister, a 39-year old niece, and a 26-year old nephew). Two of them were completely asymptomatic and all had hypertransaminasemia. All exhibited a villous atrophy pattern of the duodenal mucosa (1 mild, 1 moderate, 1 severe). Overall family involvement was 11.8% (4/14). We wish to emphasize the need to perform extended family studies when diagnosing a case of CD, since risk is not restricted to only first-degree relatives.

Adult↗

Impact of preimplantation genetic diagnosis on IVF outcome in implantation failure patients.

Implantation failure (IF) is defined as three or more failed IVF attempts, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is being used in these patients to improve IVF outcome. PGD was performed in 49 implantation failure patients with a mean number of 4.2 +/- 1.6 previous IVF failures, and in nine fertile controls. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) on blastomeres from biopsied day 3 embryos was performed for chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y. There was a significantly higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities (67.4%) compared with controls (36.3%). In 57 cycles, a pregnancy rate of 34.0% and an implantation rate of 19.8% was observed in implantation failure patients compared with controls (33.3 and 24.1% respectively), with all the pregnancies in the implantation failure group coming from the transfer of at least one chromosomally normal blastocyst on day 5. It is concluded that in IVF patients, use of PGD along with blastocyst transfer improves IVF outcome.

Adult↗

Esomeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 15 mg in maintaining healed reflux oesophagitis: Metropole study results.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of esomeprazole, 20 mg once daily, vs. lansoprazole, 15 mg once daily, for the maintenance treatment of patients with healed reflux oesophagitis. METHODS: During the initial open healing phase, 1391 patients with endoscopically verified reflux oesophagitis and a history of heartburn, with or without acid regurgitation, received esomeprazole 40 mg for 4-8 weeks. Patients who were healed (identified by endoscopy at 4 or 8 weeks) and symptom free were then randomized to receive 6 months of treatment with esomeprazole, 20 mg once daily, or lansoprazole, 15 mg once daily. RESULTS: Esomeprazole, 20 mg once daily, maintained a significantly higher proportion of patients in remission than lansoprazole, 15 mg once daily, over 6 months [83% (95% CI, 80-86%) of esomeprazole recipients compared with 74% (95% CI, 70-78%) of lansoprazole recipients; P < 0.0001; life table estimates]. When data were analysed according to baseline Los Angeles grade classification, esomeprazole, 20 mg once daily, achieved consistently higher remission rates across all grades of disease severity, whereas the efficacy of lansoprazole decreased to a greater extent with increasing severity of reflux oesophagitis. CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole, 20 mg once daily, is more effective than lansoprazole, 15 mg once daily, in maintaining remission in patients with healed reflux oesophagitis.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Comparative study of the efficacy of an induction dose of interferon-alpha2b with ribavirin compared with standard combined treatment in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The efficacy and secondary effects of an induction dose of interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) with ribavirin compared with standard combined treatment in naive patients with chronic hepatitis C infection were compared. A prospective study was undertaken between March 1998 and November 2001 in which 84 Spanish hospitals took part. Six hundred and fourteen naive patients (age range 18-65 years) diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and without cirrhosis or co-infection by other viruses, were included. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 304) received induction treatment with a daily dose of 5 MU of IFN-alpha2b for 4 weeks, followed by 5 MU three times a week with ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day, according to weight) until completing 1 year of treatment. Group B (n = 310) received the standard dose of IFN-alpha2b of 3 MU three times per week for 48 weeks together with ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day, according to weight). Both groups were completely comparable according to age, gender, body weight, transaminase levels, genotype, viral load and hepatic inflammatory activity (Knodell Index). No control group was included for ethical reasons. Pegylated interferon was not available at the time of the study. Serum baseline samples were collected for the determination of genotype. Samples were also collected at baseline, weeks 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72, in order to detect and quantify HCV-RNA. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by means of sustained viral response (SVR) characterized by persistent negativity of HCV-RNA at the end of the follow-up period. At week 4, the response to treatment was greater in group A (49.6%) compared with group B (34.5%) (P = 0.0002), and was maintained until week 12 (64.1% compared with 55.8% respectively) (P = 0.03). These differences disappeared at week 24, when group A (69%) was compared with group B (65%) (NS). At week 48, the response rate for group A was 50.6% compared with group B 47.4% (NS), and at week 72, the SVR in group A was 46% compared with 40.3% for group B (NS). The global SVR was 43.1%. On analysing the response to treatment according to genotype and viral load, we found that the induction treatment was slightly superior in patients with genotype 1 and an elevated viral load (>2 x 10(6) copies/ml). They achieved a SVR in group A of 39.1% compared with 25.5% in group B (P < 0.05). However, this slight improvement obtained in group A, was achieved at the expense of a greater percentage of dropouts compared with group B (6.4% vs 2.2%, P < 0.01); a greater rate of side effects (58.5 vs 36.7%, P < 0.05) and also a greater percentage of neutropenia (3.1% vs 0.9%, P < 0.05). The induction treatment presented a better initial response, but this was not maintained at the end of treatment, and did not improve the results obtained with the standard treatment. Although the patients with genotype 1 and elevated viral load had a better response with the induction treatment, this was accompanied by a greater percentage of dropouts and secondary effects. It would be interesting to repeat this type of study in the future, using pegylated interferon.

Adolescent↗

Low frequency of upper gastrointestinal complications in a cohort of high-risk patients taking low-dose aspirin or NSAIDS and omeprazole.

BACKGROUND: There is very little information available on the incidence of complications and on the best prevention therapy in high-risk patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or aspirin. Randomized-controlled trials in such patients are rare for ethical reasons. We studied the incidence of gastrointestinal complications in high-risk patients taking long-term low-dose aspirin or non-aspirin-NSAIDs combined with omeprazole in a real-life clinical setting. METHODS: This was a multicentre, prospective and observational study including 247 consecutive high-risk patients who had a clinical indication for long-term treatment with either low-dose aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs and omeprazole therapy. The occurrence of gastrointestinal complications was measured. RESULTS: In addition to a recent history of peptic ulcer bleeding, all patients had at least 1 other risk factor and 112 (45.3%) had 3 or more risk factors; 78.9% were taking low-dose aspirin and the remainder non-aspirin NSAIDs. Mean follow-up was 14.6 +/- 10.38 months. Three patients taking low-dose aspirin developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding (1.2%; 95% CI 0.3-3.5; 1.0 event/100 patients/year). This was similar to the rate observed in studies involving non-high-risk patients taking low-dose aspirin and higher than that observed in patients not taking low-dose aspirin. Two additional patients developed a lower gastrointestinal bleeding event (0.81% (0.04%-3.12%); 0.67 events/100 patients/year), which was within the range expected in NSAID users. CONCLUSIONS: The use of omeprazole in the high-risk patient taking low-dose aspirin or NSAIDs seems to be a safe therapeutic approach in this population and is associated with a low frequency of upper gastrointestinal complications.

Adult↗

Chromosomal abnormalities and embryo development in recurrent miscarriage couples.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal abnormalities are an important cause of spontaneous abortion and recurrent miscarriage (RM). Therefore, we have analysed the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and embryo development in patients with RM. METHODS: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was performed on 71 couples with RM and 28 couples undergoing PGD for sex-linked diseases (control group). Chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y were analysed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. RESULTS: The implantation rate in RM patients was 28% and three patients (13%) miscarried. The percentage of abnormal embryos was significantly increased (P < 0.0001) in RM patients compared with controls (70.7 versus 45.1%). All of the embryos were abnormal in 19 cycles (22.1%) and repeated PGD cycles yielded similar rates of chromosomal abnormalities in 14 couples. Anomalies for chromosomes 16 and 22 were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in RM cases. In the RM population, euploid embryos reached the blastocyst stage more frequently than abnormal embryos (61.7 versus 24.9%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RM is associated with a higher incidence of chromosomally abnormal embryos, of which some are able to develop to the blastocyst stage. IVF plus PGD is an important step in the management of these couples, but the technique has to move towards a full chromosome analysis.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Esomeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 15 mg in maintaining healed reflux oesophagitis: Metropole study results.

INTRODUCTION: Esomeprazole, the first proton pump inhibitor to be developed as an optical isomer, has demonstrated more effective healing vs. omeprazole and lansoprazole in patients with reflux oesophagitis (RO). However, RO recurs in a high proportion (approximately 80%) of these patients within 12 months of initial therapy, highlighting the importance of maintenance treatment. Previous studies have shown esomeprazole to be effective as maintenance therapy in healed RO patients. AIM: This study was conducted to compare esomeprazole 20 mg once daily (o.d.) with lansoprazole 15 mg o.d. for the prevention of recurrence of RO. METHODS: 1391 patients with endoscopically verified RO (LA classification) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre trial. During the initial healing phase of the study, all patients received 4-8 weeks' open treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg: 1236 healed (identified by endoscopy at 4 and 8 weeks) and symptom-free (i.e. no heartburn or acid regurgitation) patients were randomized to 6 months' maintenance treatment with esomeprazole 20 mg o.d. or lansoprazole 15 mg o.d. Time to relapse (relapse of RO and/or discontinuation due to symptom recurrence) was analysed using a log-rank test. RESULTS: Esomeprazole maintained a significantly higher proportion of patients in remission than lansoprazole over the 6-month course of treatment (P < 0.0001, intention-to-treat analysis). After 6 months' treatment, 83% of esomeprazole recipients were in remission compared with 74% of lansoprazole recipients (life-table estimates). Esomeprazole gave a longer time to relapse than lansoprazole irrespective of baseline LA Grade, significantly so for baseline LA Grades B, C and D (P < 0.05 for each comparison). Significantly more patients were free from heartburn in the esomeprazole group compared with the lansoprazole group at 1, 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). Significant differences at 6 months between esomeprazole 20 mg o.d. and lansoprazole 15 mg o.d. were also observed for control of epigastric pain and acid regurgitation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole 20 mg o.d. is a more effective maintenance treatment than lansoprazole 15 mg o.d. for symptom-free patients with healed RO.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Anti-multiple nuclear dots (anti-MND) and anti-SP100 antibodies in hepatic and rheumatological disorders.

Multiple nuclear dots pattern has been described in primary biliary cirrhosis and, less often, in rheumatological disorders. Sp100 is the major antigen of multiple nuclear dots. We evaluated prevalence and diagnostic significance of multiple nuclear dots and anti-Sp100 reactivity both in hepatic and rheumatological diseases. A series of 283 consecutive liver patients (89 primary biliary cirrhosis, 12 primary sclerosing cholangitis, 85 autoimmune hepatitis, 97 hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease) and of 89 consecutive rheumatological cases were evaluated. Presence of multiple nuclear dots was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells, anti-Sp100 reactivity by ELISA with recombinant protein. Multiple nuclear dots were detected in 20 patients (7%) with liver disease (of whom 15 with primary biliary cirrhosis), and in eight patients (9%) with rheumatological disorders. Anti-Sp100 was detected in 45 liver patients (16%), of whom 30 with primary biliary cirrhosis, but in only two with rheumatological disorders (2%) (P =0.0004). The concordance between multiple nuclear dots and anti-Sp100 in liver and rheumatological patients was 90% and 25% (P=0.0018), respectively. Among 89 consecutive patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, multiple nuclear dots and anti-Sp100 were present in 17% and 34%, respectively (P=0.0152). Anti-Sp100 positivity was associated with older age and higher gamma-globulin levels. Multiple nuclear dots are similarly observed in liver and rheumatological patients. In contrast, anti-Sp100 is more frequent in liver patients and is significantly more often detected in primary biliary cirrhosis, of which it can be regarded as a highly specific serological marker. The antigenic target of multiple nuclear dots in most rheumatological patients is other than Sp100.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Sarcoidosis in two patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon, ribavirin and amantadine.

We report two patients with chronic hepatitis C, both nonresponders to a previous course of interferon (IFN), who developed or suffered an exacerbation of sarcoidosis while under treatment with IFN-alpha2a, ribavirin and amantadine. Patient 1: symptoms appeared after week 4 and treatment was withdrawn at month 9 due to severe weight loss, marked dyspnea, muscular weakness, dryness of mouth and facial paralysis. Stage III pulmonary sarcoidosis and polyneuropathy were confirmed. The patient had become steroid dependent and nine months after cessation of the treatment dyspnea and muscular weakness still persisted. She achieved a complete sustained response of hepatitis C. Patient 2: presented with a previous diagnosis of granulomatous hepatitis with chronic active hepatitis C and chronic dermatitis. The treatment exacerbated a cutaneous sarcoidosis. Furthermore, hiliar adenopathies consistent with stage I sarcoidosis became evident. Sarcoidosis responded to corticosteroids, but elevated transaminases and hepatitis C viraemia resisted. Hence, the combination of amantadine with ribavirin and IFN can develop or exacerbate subclinical sarcoidosis. A synergistic effect of these three drugs is suggested.

Adult↗

Nimesulide-induced severe hemolytic anemia and acute liver failure leading to liver transplantation.

We present the case of a 63-year-old woman who had undergone 7 months of treatment with Nimesulide (100 mg/b.i.d.) for symptomatic osteoarthritis. The patient was admitted to our unit with a clinical picture of progressive jaundice over 3 weeks. Clinical and analytical studies revealed acute liver failure, this being confirmed by liver biopsy, which showed submassive necrosis. Serological tests for different viral agents causing hepatitis were all negative. In addition, she presented a picture of severe haemolytic anaemia resistant to several treatments and needed multiple transfusions. Twenty-three days after admission, the patient presented hepatic encephalopathy and received an orthotopic liver transplant on day 25. The evolution after transplantation was good and the patient continues in good health with no evidence of haemolysis almost 2 years later. Liver toxicity due to Nimesulide is well known, but to our knowledge the occurrence of haemolytic anaemia has not been related to this drug previously. For these reasons, Nimesulide has been restricted or removed from the market in several countries in recent months.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

MHC class I chain related gene A (MICA) modulates the development of coeliac disease in patients with the high risk heterodimer DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coeliac disease (CD) is an enteropathic disorder characterised by a strong association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterodimer HLA-DQ2. It has been suggested that other HLA class I genes in combination with DQ may also contribute to CD susceptibility. The aim of this study was to investigate whether other candidate genes modify the risk of developing different clinical forms of CD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 133 Spanish coeliac patients, divided according to their clinical presentation into typical and atypical groups, and 116 healthy controls. All were typed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) at HLA-B, DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci and for exon 5 of the MHC class I chain related gene A (MICA). RESULTS: No differences were found in the frequency of the DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201 heterodimer in either group. The risk of typical CD was significantly associated with the DR7/DQ2 haplotype (p(c)=0.02, odds ratio (OR)=3.4, ethiological fraction (EF)=0.4). Extended haplotype (EH) 8.1 (B8/DR3/DQ2) was found to be overrepresented in the atypical form compared with the typical form (p(c)=0.001, OR=4.19, EF=0.56). The trinucleotide repeat polymorphism MICA-A5.1 was found to be increased in the atypical group of patients compared with the typical group (p(c)=0.00006, OR=8.63, EF=0.81). This association was independent of linkage disequilibrium with EH8.1 as this was also found to be increased in EH8.1 negative atypical patients compared with the typical group (p(c)=0.004, OR=6.66, EF=0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the risk of developing typical forms of CD was associated with DR7/DQ2 haplotype, and the presence of B8/DR3/DQ2 was significantly increased in atypical patients. In these, the MICA-A5.1 allele confers an additive effect to the DR3/DQ2 haplotype that may modulate the development of CD.

Adult↗

Immunohistochemical evidence for the expression and induction of paraoxonase in rat liver, kidney, lung and brain tissue. Implications for its physiological role.

Studies on the localization of paraoxonases (PON's) are of interest because of its involvement in both the detoxication of activated organophosphorus pesticides and in the prevention of peroxidative damage to phospholipids and cholesteryl-esters in LDL and HDL particles and cell membranes during the atherogenic process. In the present study, we have investigated the cellular localization of PON1 by immunohistochemistry in different rat tissues. The protein was mainly detected in the endothelial lining of every tissue studied (liver, kidney, lung and brain). Besides, it was found in hepatocytes from the centrolobular region of the liver, in the glomeruli and basal pole of the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney, in cells from bronchiolar epithelium and type I pneumocytes of the lung, and in leptomeningeal cells, ependymal cells and ventricular side of choroid plexus cells of the brain. However, neurons and glia lacked immunostaining. After 3-methylcholanthrene induction an increase in the intensity of immunostaining was observed in the same areas, as well as an additional staining in midzonal hepatocytes. On the basis of the tissue distribution observed for PON1, it is proposed that this enzyme might have a function related to the inactivation of oxidative stress by-products (either at a cellular level or blood-vessel wall) and other environmental chemicals. At present it has not yet been established whether the paraoxonase detected in the various tissues is truly a product of the PON1 gene or could represent products of the PON2 or PON3 genes.

Animals↗

Hydrolysis of platelet-activating factor by human serum paraoxonase.

Human serum paraoxonase (human PON1) has been shown to be important in the metabolism of phospholipid and cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides, thereby preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and retarding atherogenesis. However, the exact substrate specificity of PON1 has not been established. In the present study we show that purified PON1 hydrolyses platelet-activating factor (PAF). We could find no evidence for contamination of our preparation with authentic platelet-activating-factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) by immunoblotting with a PAFAH monoclonal antibody or by sequencing the purified protein. In addition the specific PAFAH inhibitor SB-222657 did not affect the ability of PON1 to hydrolyse PAF (30.1+/-2.8 micromol/min per mg of protein with no inhibitor; 31.4+/-2.2 micromol/min per mg of protein with 100 nM inhibitor) or phenyl acetate (242.6+/-30.8 versus 240.8+/-31.5 micromol/min per mg of protein with and without inhibitor respectively). SB-222657 was also unable to inhibit PAF hydrolysis by isolated human high-density lipoprotein (HDL), but completely abolished the activity of human LDL. Ostrich (Struthio camelus) HDL, which does not contain PON1, was unable to hydrolyse PAF. These data provide evidence that PON1 may limit the action of this bioactive pro-inflammatory phospholipid.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Clinical efficacy of the Toupet technique performed by laparoscopic surgery. Medium-term follow-up in 122 cases.

BACKGROUND: We present the results obtained in a series of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who underwent the same type of laparoscopic surgery (Toupet technique). METHODS: A total of 122 patients with symptomatic hiatal hernia and GERD were submitted to laparoscopic surgery between March 1993 and March 1999. In all patients, we performed a preoperative gastroduodenal radiological study, an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24-h pH monitoring. The same studies were repeated at 3 months. All patients were followed up clinically for ?1 year. The only laparoscopic technique used was the Toupet (270 degrees posterior fundoplication). RESULTS: In 117 patients (95.9%), the clinical results were good, with complete disappearance of the symptoms. Two patients suffered a relapse, which was resolved by reintervention with laparoscopy. One patient experienced dysphagia and frequent chest pain for 5 months. Another two patients had moderate difficulty in belching. The endoscopic and radiological barium studies at 3 months were normal in all patients. Significant differences were seen in functional studies performed prior to and 3 months after the operation in all patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical laparoscopic treatment with the Toupet technique is effective both clinically and functionally. In cases of relapse, a new repair is possible with laparoscopy. Long-term follow-up of these patients is necessary to show whether these results are maintained over time.

Adult↗

Antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation in primary biliary cirrhosis.

The disposition of antipyrine is altered and may be a prognostic factor in the presence of various types of hepatic dysfunction. The object of the present study was to investigate whether antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation are useful to detect altered metabolic function in primary biliary cirrhosis. Saliva clearance of antipyrine and the formation clearance of antipyrine metabolites (hydroxymethylantipyrine, HMA; norantipyrine, NORA; and 4-hydroxyantipyrine, OHA) were investigated in a group of 34 women with biopsy-proven PBC (mean age 60 years; range 39-87 years) and in 15 healthy control women (mean age 62 years; range 46-78 years). Parameters of antipyrine clearance of patients in stage I and II were similar to those observed in healthy subjects. When compared to patients in stage I, patients in advanced stages showed a reduction in antipyrine clearance (-29% and -44% in stages III and IV, respectively) and increases in antipyrine half-life (+24% and +75% in stages III and IV, respectively). The reduction in antipyrine clearance was due to a reduction in the formation of all three antipyrine metabolites, with the formation clearance of both HMA and NORA decreasing to a slightly greater extent than that of OHA. Antipyrine clearance correlated significantly with serum bilirubin (P < 0.017) and the Mayo risk score (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that antipyrine clearance was an independent predictor of the histological stage of the disease (P < 0.001). Antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation is a sensitive parameter for assessing hepatic metabolic function in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult↗