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Biomedical subjects

R E Kates

Publications and source records attributed to R E Kates.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Lorcainide disposition kinetics in arrhythmia patients.

Lorcainide disposition kinetics were studied after intravenous and oral administration to patients with ventricular arrhythmias. After intravenous doses ranging from 100 to 200 mg, blood samples were drawn and plasma was analyzed for lorcainide concentration by high-pressure liquid chromatography. A three-compartment model was used to fit the data. The model-independent calculated values for clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, and terminal half-life were 14.4 +/- 3.28 ml/min/kg, 6.33 +/- 2.23 l/kg, and 7.8 +/- 2.2 hr. After nine doses of oral lorcainide (100 mg every 12 hr) blood samples were drawn and analyzed for lorcainide and its active metabolite, norlorcainide. The lorcainide and norlorcainide half-lifes were 9.6 +/- 2.8 and 26.8 +/- 8.2 hr. Mean steady-state level of norlorcainide was 2.2 +/- 0.9 times the level of lorcainide. The data suggest that the clearance of lorcainide decreases with time during long-term dosing.

Administration, Oral↗

Verapamil decreases MAC for halothane in dogs.

Verapamil hydrochloride is a calcium entry blocking drug that is being prescribed with increasing frequency for cardiovascular disorders in the perioperative setting. Verapamil's calcium channel blocking effect is not selective, because it also exerts activity on the sodium channel. Because of the well-described effects of sodium channel blockers on anesthetic requirements, the authors studied the MAC for halothane in dogs before and after a therapeutic dose of verapamil 0.5 mg . kg-1. There was a 25% reduction in halothane MAC from 0.97-0.72% (P less than 0.01) when a therapeutic plasma level of verapamil (64 ng . ml-1) was present. Anesthetic requirements for halothane are reduced by dl-verapamil possibly on the basis of its local anesthetic-like sodium channel blocking properties. Adjustments in anesthetic dosage may be necessary in patients receiving verapamil.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Comparison of the electrophysiologic effects of intravenous and oral lorcainide in patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia.

The electrophysiologic effects of intravenous lorcainide (2.2 mg/kg) in 10 patients were compared with the electrophysiologic effects of oral lorcainide (mean dose 400 mg/day for 8 days) in 11 patients, all with recurrent ventricular tachycardia that could be induced with programmed stimulation. Intravenous and oral lorcainide resulted in similar prolongation of the QRS, QT, and HV intervals, but only oral lorcainide resulted in prolongation of the AH interval and atrial and ventricular effective refractory periods. After both oral and intravenous lorcainide, ventricular tachycardia could still be induced, but the arrhythmia was slower and better tolerated hemodynamically. The mean plasma lorcainide level during a maintenance intravenous infusion was 1254 +/- 662 ng/ml compared with a lorcainide level of 562 +/- 41 ng/ml and a norlorcainide level of 1212 +/- 653 ng/ml after oral dosing. No norlorcainide was detected in plasma after intravenous lorcainide. These data suggest that the short-term electrophysiologic effects of intravenous lorcainide may be different from those of short-term therapy with the oral drug. These differences should be considered during short-term studies of lorcainide.

Administration, Oral↗

Clinical pharmacology of propafenone.

We determined the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and plasma concentration-response relationships of propafenone, a promising new antiarrhythmic drug. Thirteen patients with frequent and complex ventricular premature beats were studied after receiving four increasing doses, during drug washout and during a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, to evaluate the optimal dose in each patient. A nonlinear relationship was found between propafenone dose and steady-state mean concentration with a 10-fold increase in drug concentration as dose increased threefold from 300 to 900 mg/day. There was great intersubject variability in elimination half-life (mean 6 hr, range 2.4 to 11.8), steady-state mean concentration on 900 mg/day of propafenone (mean 1008 ng/ml, range 482 to 1812), and "therapeutic" plasma concentration (mean 588 ng/ml, range 64 to 1044). The interaction of these three parameters in individual patients determined the duration of the antiarrhythmic action of propafenone during washout (mean 11.5 hr, range 4 to 22). There was a greater than 90% reduction of ventricular premature beats in 10 subjects during dose ranging and in seven during double-blind crossover. Side effects requiring discontinuation of the drug occurred in three patients and included apparent worsening of arrhythmias in two. We conclude that propafenone effectively suppresses ventricular arrhythmias and that nonlinear drug accumulation and intersubject variability in elimination of half-life, steady-state mean plasma concentration, and therapeutic concentration indicate a need for individual therapy.

Adult↗

Calcium antagonists. Pharmacokinetic properties.

An understanding of the pharmacokinetics of the calcium antagonists (slow-channel blocking drugs) is essential in order to design appropriate dosage regimens which will provide optimum therapeutic efficacy with these agents. This review summarises and evaluates the current state of knowledge of the absorption and disposition characteristics of the 3 most extensively used calcium antagonists in cardiovascular therapeutics: verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine. While an extensive literature regarding the kinetics of verapamil exists, reports dealing with diltiazem and nifedipine are limited. This is, in part, due to difficulties in developing simple, specific and sensitive analytical procedures. All 3 drugs undergo extensive metabolism in the liver. Metabolites of verapamil (norverapamil) and diltiazem (desacetyldiltiazem) accumulate in the plasma of patients and have been shown to produce some effects similar to those of their parent compounds. The bioavailability of diltiazem and nifedipine has not been well studied, and no investigations of the absolute bioavailability of these compounds have been reported. However, the bioavailability of verapamil has been studied extensively; about 22% of an orally administered dose of verapamil is systemically available. Bioavailability is increased when liver function is impaired, such as in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. The high first-pass extraction of verapamil has been suggested to be stereoselective, with preferential elimination of the (-) isomer. The plasma concentration-time curves of verapamil and diltiazem have been studied following oral administration. The elimination half-lives of verapamil and diltiazem are about 8 and 5 hours, respectively. All 3 drugs are highly protein-bound in the plasma. Several other drugs have the ability to displace verapamil from plasma protein binding sites, but the clinical significance of this interaction is doubtful. Other drug interactions have been investigated with these agents. Verapamil causes digoxin plasma levels to rise during concomitant administration, but no drugs have been shown to alter the disposition of verapamil. Diazepam affects the plasma levels of diltiazem leading to a decrease. The mechanism of this interaction has not been reported, but an effect on bioavailability has been suggested. Age has been shown to be a factor in the disposition of both diltiazem and verapamil. Older patients tend to have lower clearances of these 2 drugs than do younger patients. It has also been shown that hepatic cirrhosis leads to a decreased clearance of verapamil. Plasma level monitoring may be helpful for adjusting doses of both verapamil and diltiazem, despite the absence of a definition of therapeutic plasma concentrations. These agents all have low, and highly variable, systemic availability, and plasma concentrations cannot be predicted after oral administration.

Administration, Oral↗

Myocardial disposition of amiodarone in the dog.

The time course of myocardial uptake and disposition of amiodarone was studied after both acute i.v. and chronic oral administration. In addition, the myocardial disposition of a metabolite, N-desethylamiodarone, was studied after chronic oral amiodarone administration. After i.v. administration, the plasma concentrations of amiodarone fell rapidly; however, peak myocardial concentrations were not observed until 10 to 30 min after administration. Amiodarone was highly concentrated in the myocardium; the average (+/- S.D.) myocardial/plasma concentration ratio between 2 and 6 hr after administration was 89 +/- 32. Although there was significant interanimal variability, there was relative consistency over time in the ratio for each dog during this time period. Although no metabolite (N-desethylamiodarone) was detected in the plasma after the single i.v. dose, it was present in both plasma and myocardial samples after chronic oral therapy. Mean steady-state plasma concentrations of amiodarone and N-desethylamiodarone ranged from 0.62 to 1.63 micrograms/ml and 0.19 to 0.43 micrograms/ml, respectively. These studies show that the myocardial disposition kinetics of amiodarone are different from other drugs studied and both amiodarone and its N-desethyl metabolite accumulate extensively in the myocardium.

Administration, Oral↗

Prolongation of verapamil elimination kinetics during chronic oral administration.

The elimination of verapamil and its n-demethylated metabolite, norverapamil, was studied in nine patients with chronic atrial fibrillation after the first oral verapamil dose and during chronic oral verapamil administration. Significant increases (p less than 0.01) were seen in the elimination half-lives (t 1/2's) of both verapamil (6.4 +/- 3.5 to 12 +/- 5 hours, mean +/- SD) and norverapamil (10.3 +/- 6 to 16.5 +/- 7 hours) during chronic oral verapamil administration. These pharmacokinetic observations have important clinical implications for the rational long-term administration of this agent. Once steady-state serum concentrations have been achieved during chronic verapamil administration, verapamil doses should be given at less frequent intervals or in smaller doses in order to produce the desired serum concentration and therapeutic response and to minimize unwanted or toxic drug effects.

Administration, Oral↗

Metabolite cumulation during long-term oral encainide administration.

Cumulation of encainide and its major metabolites, O-demethylencainide (ODE), 3-methoxy-ODE (MODE), and N-demethylencainide (NDE) was examined in patients with frequent complex ventricular ectopy. After 6 mo on encainide patients were admitted to Stanford University Hospital and the drug was discontinued for 24 hr. During this time blood samples were drawn to characterize the cumulation and disposition of the drug and metabolites. The mean steady-state concentrations of encainide, ODE, and MODE were 56.3, 214.6, and 184.6 ng/ml after doses ranging from 100 to 250 mg/day. The concentration ratios of ODE/encainide and MODE/encainide were 5.02 +/- 2.61 and 5.15 +/- 4.13. NDE was detected in the plasma of only one patient. Elimination half lifes of encainide and ODE were 1.16 +/- 0.5 and 11.41 +/- 9.58 hr. MODE disappeared slowly and at 24 hr the plasma concentration was still 59.8 +/- 39.9% of its mean steady-state concentration. Our data indicate that the metabolites of encainide cumulate in the plasma of patients on long-term oral therapy and must be considered when evaluating its clinical efficacy.

Administration, Oral↗

Myocardial disposition and cardiac pharmacodynamics of verapamil in the dog.

The disposition of verapamil was studied in anesthetized open-chested dogs following administration of intravenous doses of 0.5 mg/kg. The plasma and myocardial verapamil concentration-time data were fit to a three-compartment model to describe the disposition kinetics. The distribution equilibrium between myocardium and plasma was achieved rapidly and the concentration of verapamil decayed in parallel in these two tissues. The partition coefficient which describes the time averaged myocardial/plasma concentration ratio was 6.21 +/- 2.38. Examination of the relationship between the plasma and myocardial concentrations and the time course of the effect of verapamil, as defined as PR interval prolongation, revealed a hysteresis effect in some dogs. Despite this hysteresis, there was a linear relationship between plasma and myocardial concentrations of verapamil and the degree of prolongation of the PR interval. The results of this study indicate that the concentration in the plasma is in equilibrium with the myocardium and changes in plasma concentration are indicative of parallel changes in myocardial levels. The effect of verapamil on the atrioventricular node is related to the concentration in the myocardium and plasma, but there is substantial interanimal variability in the sensitivity to verapamil.

Animals↗

Long-term benefit of cardioselective beta blockade with once-daily atenolol therapy in angina pectoris.

The long-term efficacy of once-daily atenolol cardioselective beta-blockade therapy for chronic stable angina pectoris was studied in nine coronary disease patients. After a placebo-controlled single-blind dose-ranging trial with 2-week drug periods of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg, they continued on 100 or 200 mg daily for 1 year. Treadmill exercise test (ET) were performed at times at peak and trough serum atenolol concentrations and 24-hour ECG ambulatory recordings were obtained after placebo, after 2 weeks of 100 and 200 mg atenolol, and after 2 weeks of 100 and 200 mg atenolol, and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of 100 or 200 mg atenolol. During early and chronic atenolol therapy, angina frequency and nitroglycerin consumption were decreased (p less than 0.01 to less than 0.001). Twenty-four hour ECG and ET showed sustained heart rate suppression. Exercise duration until angina onset was prolonged during all periods of atenolol administration. Maximal improvement in exercise tolerance and angina relief was not reached until 3 months of atenolol therapy despite stable serum drug concentrations. During the 14 months fatigue occurred in three patients which was dose-limiting in only one. Thus atenolol 100 or 200 mg given once daily, proved well-tolerated and potent anti-ischemic myocardial actions which were effectively maintained during chronic therapy of angina pectoris.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Beneficial hemodynamic response to chronic prazosin therapy in congestive heart failure.

Thirteen patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) were treated with prazosin. Following the first dose, cardiac output (CO) (mean +/- SD) rose from 3.2 +/- 1.2 to 4.3 +/- 1.1 L/min, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PAD) decreased from 23 +/- 12 to 18 +/- 11 mm Hg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased from 85 +/- 10 to 76 +/- 10 mm Hg, and heart rate did not change (92 +/- 15 vs 92 +/- 14 bpm). At the end of a 48 to 72 hour titration to an optimal regimen, significant effects on CO (3.2 +/- 1.1 vs 4.5 +/- 1.3 L/min), PAD (24 +/- 12 vs 18 +/- 8 mm Hg), and MAP (84 +/- 10 vs 76 +/- 10 mm Hg) were still seen. The patients were restudied after 3 months of treatment. In contrast to reports of rapid development of tolerance to prazosin, we found continued beneficial effects on CO (3.0 +/- 1.3 vs 3.8 +/- 1.0 L/min) and PAD (23 +/- 12 vs 18 +/- 10 mm Hg), without significant change in MAP (81 +/- 11 vs 78 +/- 8 mm Hg). We found wide variability in the CO rise in response to prazosin, which was not accounted for by differences in plasma prazosin concentration. Systemic vascular resistance in the untreated state did correlate with the percentage change in CO. In addition, excessive lowering of the PAD appeared to blunt the CO response in some cases.

Blood Pressure↗

Clinical pharmacology and antiarrhythmic efficacy of N-acetylprocainamide.

Eleven patients with chronic ventricular arrhythmias took part in a study of N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA), the major metabolite of procainamide, in order to characterize further NAPA's clinical pharmacology and antiarrhythmic action. The frequency of ventricular arrhythmia on 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings was comparable on recordings obtained in a prestudy screening, during treatment with placebo before administration of NAPA and after treatment with NAPA. The initial dosage of NAPA was 500 mg every 8 hours, which was increased by 500 mg increments every few days until 90 percent suppression of arrhythmia or intolerable adverse effects occurred. Only two patients achieved 90 percent suppression of ventricular ectopic complexes. The mean plasma concentration associated with 90 percent suppression of arrhythmia in these two patients ws 12.6 and 32.3 mg/ml, respectively. One of these two patients was unable to continue long-term therapy with NAPA because of a rash. Other adverse effects included gastrointestinal symptoms in seven patients with visual symptoms in four patients at plasma concentratons as low as 6.9 mg/ml. NAPA obeyed linear pharmacokinetics over the range of dosages studied (500 to 2,500 mg every 8 hours) and had a half-life of 10.7 +/- 1.98 hours (mean +/- standard deviation). There was no change in the P-R or QRS intervals and there was a dose-dependent prolongation of the Q-Tc interval. It is concluded that in this patient group, NAPA suppressed chronic ventricular ectopic complexes without adverse effects in only a minority of patients.

Acecainide↗

Verapamil disposition kinetics in chronic atrial fibrillation.

Verapamil disposition was studied in 12 patients with chronic and fibrillation. After an intravenous bolus of 15 mg plasma concentration was determined and the data fit in a three-compartment model. Model independent parameters were calculated and values for half-life (t 1/2), clearance, and steady-state distribution volume were 6.3 +/- 4 hr, 13.3 +/- 7.7 ml/min/kg, and 4.3 +/- 1.9 l/kg. The model was used to design a multistep infusion scheme, which was employed successfully to achieve predetermined plasma concentrations. Following single oral doses of 120 mg, plasma levels of verapamil and norverapamil were determined. The elimination t 1/2 for verapamil and norverapamil were 8.3 +/- 6.1 and 10.5 +/- 5.6 hr, respectively. The bioavailability of oral verapamil was 35 +/- 16%. During long-term oral therapy the mean verapamil plasma concentration was twice the value predicted from the single-dose studies. This suggests that verapamil may have reduced clearance during long-term oral use.

Administration, Oral↗

Verapamil protein binding in patients and in normal subjects.

Verapamil plasma protein binding was studied in four groups of 12 subjects each: (1) normal subjects; (2) patients with moderate renal insufficiency and patients requiring dialysis; (3) patients 1 to 4 days after coronary artery surgery; and (4) patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. In normal subjects, plasma protein binding of verapamil was 89.6 +/- 0.17% and was concentration independent over a range of 35 to 1,557 ng/ml, which includes the usual clinical plasma range. In normal subjects, plasma protein binding of verapamil was not affected by addition of its major metabolite, norverapamil, in ratios of 1.2 to 26.3 (norverapamil/verapamil) or by the addition of 10 micrograms of warfarin. The plasma protein binding of verapamil was not altered in the postsurgical state or in the dialysis patients. Verapamil protein binding was initially lower in the cardiac catheterization patients (mean = 86.34 +/- 2.13%, p less than 0.001) than in normal subjects and was still lower (mean = 83.29 +/- 3.04%, p less than 0.02) after heparinization. There was also a small increase in binding in the patients with renal insufficiency (p less than 0.05). Plasma protein binding of verapamil in mongrel dogs (mean = 90.7%) was the same order. We found verapamil to be approximately 90% bound in man and dogs and not markedly changed by any of the conditions studied.

Adult↗