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Background An echocardiography-derived calcium score (ECS) has been shown to predict CV mortality in the general population but has not been utilized in the dialysis population. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study including 125 prevalent PD patients. Two blinded and independent echocardiographers determined the ECS for each subject at baseline. The primary outcome was the three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which is a composite outcome comprising CV Death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. Results The mean age was 61 ± 13 years. The median follow-up duration was 40 months (range 1-50). Diabetes mellitus (DM) occurred in 76 (60.8%) of the subjects. The median duration of dialysis was 32 (IQR 16-54) months. The incidences of MACE and all-cause mortality were 13.0 per 100 patient-years and 18.3 per 100 patient-years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the following 3 independent predictors of MACE: ECS (HR 1.253 / unit increase in ECS, 95% CI 1.014-1.547, p = 0.036), DM (HR 2.467, 95% CI 1.014-6.005, p = 0.047) and pre-existing CVD (HR 2.441, 95% CI 1.261-4.728, p = 0.008); and the following 2 predictors of all-cause mortality: pre-existing CVD (HR 2.156, 95% CI 1.251-3.714, p = 0.006) and serum albumin (HR 0.887 / g/L increase in serum albumin, 95% CI 0.839-0.937, p Conclusion The ECS appears to be a significant predictor of MACE in PD patients independently of DM and pre-existing CVD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare but debilitating condition that can affect dialysis patients. Optimal management is largely unknown. We report the clinical course, treatment, and outcome of a peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient who developed tumoral calcinosis refractory to conventional treatment but improved with teriparatide therapy. A 26-year-old lady on PD for 2 years presented to us with tumoral calcinosis involving bilateral hands. Response to surgical excision, parathyroidectomy, and conversion to hemodialysis failed to result in sustained remission, and tumoral calcinosis progressed. After total parathyroidectomy, the patient had transient but partial remission in which her calcinosis deposits remained but were asymptomatic without pain or clinical signs of inflammation. However, she later experienced a relapse with involvement of the left elbow, right shoulder, right hip, and right thigh. Tumoral calcinosis remained uncontrolled resulting in debilitation, likely attributable to poor calcium and phosphate control because of adynamic bone disease after parathyroidectomy despite treatment of superimposed tuberculosis and therapy with sodium thiosulphate and pamidronic acid. Clinical improvement was however evident after the use of teriparatide. Asymptomatic hypocalcemia occurred after teriparatide therapy but resolved after 2 months. In conclusion, teriparatide appears to be useful for treating tumoral calcinosis in the presence of adynamic bone disease. Hypocalcemia can occur in the initial months of therapy.

Background: The hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a well described phenomenon occurring shortly after parathyroidectomy characterized by rapid bone formation with concomitant hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia requiring intensive management. Recurrent HBS occurring in isolation from parathyroidectomy has not been reported.Case presentation: We describe a case of recurrent HBS in a kidney transplant recipient (KTR) developing years after parathyroidectomy. The KTR was a 49 year-old lady who had undergone successful total parathyroidectomy without re-implantation 14 years prior and cadaveric kidney transplantation 12 years prior. She had a stable creatinine level of 220μmol/L and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 mL/min-1.73m2. She presented to us with severe hypercalcemia, likely a result of excessive calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and acute kidney injury. Serum creatinine, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels on admission were 743μmol/L, 4.8 mmol/L, 1.8 mmol/L, 0.75 mmol/L, 48IU/L and

In addition to the observation of an increased viremia among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who undergo renal transplantation, fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity have been noted to worsen comparing pre- and post-renal transplantation liver biopsies in some of these patients. Apart from the reported reduced patient and allograft survival rates, post-transplant diabetes mellitus, de novo glomerulonephritis, and an increased overall risk of infection have been observed. However, antiviral therapy for HCV is generally considered contraindicated among patients with solid organ transplants, with the main worry being the risk of acute rejection in relation to the use of interferon. We reported the long-term outcome of four renal transplant patients with chronic HCV infection who received peginterferon-based therapy. We collected the long-term follow-up data of four patients who completed the therapy with peginterferon in combination with ribavirin. Two of them had renal impairment at baseline. With treatment, they had a significant improvement in terms of serum liver transaminase level, and two patients achieved the early virological response and the other two rapid virological response. All four patients achieved sustained virological response, with neither HCV flare up nor renal dysfunction during follow-up for a mean duration of 74.3 months after therapy. These results suggest that sustained HCV virological response may be achieved without allograft dysfunction, in selected renal transplant patients using a peginterferon-based therapy.

Background The optimal management of calciphylaxis in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is uncertain. Case presentation We report 2 cases of refractory calciphylaxis in KTRs who suffered from persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism. They failed initial therapy with sodium thiosulphate but responded to treatment with bisphosphonates. No adverse events were noted with bisphosphonate therapy. Conclusion Bisphosphonates appear to be an effective therapy for KTRs with calciphylaxis who cannot tolerate or respond poorly to STS, particularly if they have persistent hyperparathyroidism post-transplantation.

Background and Objectives Catheter-related infection, namely exit-site infection (ESI) and peritonitis, is a major infectious complication and remains a main cause of technique failure for patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Topical application of antibiotic cream might reduce catheter-related infection but emergence of resistant or opportunistic organisms could be a concern. Optimal topical agents and regimens remain to be determined. We did a study to examine the effect of an alternating topical antibiotic regimen in preventing catheter-related infection. Method We performed a single-center, randomized, open-label study to compare daily topical application of gentamicin cream with a gentamicin/mupirocin alternate regimen to the exit site. Patients randomized to alternating regimen were asked to have daily application of gentamicin cream in odd months and mupirocin cream in even months. Primary outcomes were ESI and peritonitis. Secondary outcomes were catheter removal or death caused by catheter-related infection. A total of 146 patients (71, gentamicin group; 75, alternating regimen group) were enrolled with a total follow-up duration of 174 and 181 patient-years for gentamicin and alternating groups, respectively. All patients were followed up until catheter removal, death, transfer to another unit, transplantation or the end of the study on March 31, 2014. There were no significant differences in the age, sex, dialysis vintage, and rate of diabetes, helper-assisted dialysis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage state. Results No difference was seen in the time to first ESI or peritonitis. However, the time to first gram-negative peritonitis seemed longer for the gentamicin group ( p = 0.055). The 2 groups showed a similar rate of ESI (0.17/yr vs 0.19/yr, p = 0.93) but P. aeruginosa ESI was less common in the gentamicin group (0.06/yr vs 0.11/yr, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of ESI due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Peritonitis rate was significantly lower in the gentamicin group (0.22/yr vs 0.32/yr, p < 0.001), with a striking decrease in gram-negative peritonitis (0.08/yr vs 0.14/yr, p < 0.001), and fungal peritonitis (0.006/yr vs 0.03/yr, p < 0.001), which was all antibiotics-related episodes with antecedent use of systemic antibiotics for the treatment of catheter-related infections. There was no significant difference in the catheter loss or death related to catheter-related infection. Conclusion Alternating gentamicin/mupirocin cream application appeared as effective as gentamicin alone in preventing ESI except for P. aeruginosa. However, it was inferior to gentamicin in the prevention of peritonitis episodes, especially for those caused by gram-negative organisms. It was also not useful in reducing catheter-related infection due to opportunistic organisms but instead associated with a higher incidence of antibiotic-related fungal peritonitis.

Background Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is an important postoperative complication after parathyroidectomy for severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). There is, however, little data in the literature on its detailed clinical course, and the associated risk factors remain controversial. Methods We did a single-center retrospective study on 62 consecutive dialysis patients who underwent total parathyroidectomy for SHPT to examine the risk factors, clinical course and outcome. Data on demographic characteristics, perioperative laboratory parameters including serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH), drug treatment for SHPT and operative details of parathyroidectomy were collected. Results Seventeen (27.4%) patients developed severe postoperative hypocalcemia with HBS. The serum calcium dropped progressively while serum ALP rose after operation until 2 weeks later when serum calcium reached the trough and serum ALP peaked. Serum phosphate also fell but stabilized between 4 and 14 days. The total postoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation was significantly larger, and hospital stay was significantly longer in the group with HBS as compared with those without HBS. Young age, high body weight, high preoperative ALP level, and low preoperative calcium level independently predicted the development of HBS while preoperative PTH and use of cinacalcet or paricalcitol did not. Conclusion HBS was common after total parathyroidectomy in patients with SHPT, and it is important to closely monitor the postoperative serum calcium, phosphate and ALP levels in the following 2 weeks, especially for those at risk. The implications of our findings on perioperative management are discussed.

Background Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is the most serious complication of peritoneal dialysis, having high morbidity and mortality. To improve outcomes, early diagnosis is needed to direct treatment during the early inflammatory phase. However, in the early inflammatory phase, clinical features are nonspecific, and no reliable diagnostic criteria have been established. Because bacterial peritonitis and termination of dialysis are two important risk factors triggering the progression of EPS, patients with refractory bacterial peritonitis necessitating dialysis catheter removal are at particularly high risk of developing EPS. Many of these patients might indeed experience non-resolving sterile peritonitis (probably the inflammatory phase of EPS) before progression to full-blown disease (that is, the presence of intestinal obstruction). We undertook a retrospective study to compare, in this particular situation, the clinical characteristics of patients with or without sterile peritoneal inflammation, assessing their clinical outcomes in terms of short-term mortality and the chance of developing full-blown EPS. Methods Our retrospective review included 62 patients whose dialysis catheter was removed because of refractory peritonitis between January 2005 and December 2010. Results Of the 62 patients identified, 39 (63%) had persistent sterile peritoneal inflammation (“high-risk” group, n = 39), and 23 (37%) had resolution of inflammation without significant intra-abdominal collection after catheter withdrawal (“control” group, n = 23). Compared with the control group, the high-risk group had a significantly longer PD duration (71.6 ± 43.3 months vs 42.3 ± 29.9 months, p = 0.003), a higher dialysate-to-plasma ratio (D/P) of creatinine (0.768 ± 0.141 vs 0.616 ± 0.091, p = 0.004), and a higher computed tomography score for EPS (7.69 ± 2.98 vs 1.00 ± 1.00, p < 0.001). During the 6-month study period, the high-risk group had a higher chance of developing full-blown EPS (31% vs 0%, p = 0.002) and a higher 6-month all-cause mortality (36% vs 4.3%, p = 0.004) Conclusions Persistent sterile peritoneal inflammation was common after dialysis catheter removal for refractory bacterial peritonitis, and the patients with such inflammation were at high risk of progression to full-blown EPS.

We report 9 cases of exit-site infection and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis associated with atypical mycobacteria. All patients had been using topical gentamicin cream as prophylaxis for exit-site infection before the onset of these infections. Gentamicin cream is postulated to be a potential risk factor for atypical mycobacterial infection because of selective pressure on other micro-organisms. The microbiology of atypical mycobacteria and the treatment for atypical mycobacterial infections are discussed.

Forty children with hypertension between the age of 2 months and 15 years received 0.07 to 0.14 mg/kg of enalapril as a single daily dose. Enalapril was administered orally as a novel extemporaneous suspension in children younger than 6 years of age and as tablets in older children. First-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics were estimated in children ages 1 to 24 months, 25 months to < 6 years, 6 to < 12 years, and 12 to < 16 years. Maximum serum concentrations for enalapril occurred approximately 1 hour after administration. Serum concentrations of enalaprilat, the active metabolite of enalapril, peaked between 4 and 6 hours after the first dose and 3 and 4 hours after multiple doses. The area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC), adjusted for body surface area, did not differ between age groups. Based on comparison of first-dose and steady-state A UCs, the accumulation of enalaprilat in children ranged from 1.13- to 1.45-fold. For children ages 2 to 15 years, mean urinary recovery of total enalaprilat ranged from 58.3% in children ages 6 to < 12 years to 71.4% in children ages 12 to < 16 years. Urinary recovery for children ages 2 to < 6 years was 66. 8%. The mean percentage conversion of enalapril to enalaprilat ranged from 64.7% for children ages 1 to 24 months to 74.6% for children ages 6 to < 12 years. The median effective half-life for accumulation ranged from 14.6 hours in children ages 12 to < 16 years to 16.3 hours in children ages 6 to < 12 years. There were two serious adverse events, neither of which was attributed to enalapril or resulted in discontinuation of the study drug. The extemporaneous suspension used in this study was tolerated well. The pharmacokinetics of enalapril and enalaprilat in hypertensive children ages 2 months to 15 years with normal renal function appears to be similar to that previously observed in healthy adults.

Background: Tirofiban, an intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist, and enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin, have each been shown to be effective at reducing cardiac ischemic events compared to unfractionated heparin alone in separate trials of patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. The combination of these agents may offer further therapeutic benefit. Materials and methods: Fifty-five patients with non-Q-wave myocardial infarction were randomized to receive double-blind treatment with tirofiban (0.1 μg/kg/min i.v.) for 48–108 h coadministered with either enoxaparin (1 mg/kg sc q 12 h) ( n =26) or unfractionated heparin (i.v. adjusted to activated partial-thromboplastin time) ( n =27) to evaluate pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the effect of unfractionated heparin versus enoxaparin on the plasma clearance of tirofiban. Results: Coadministration of tirofiban and enoxaparin was generally well tolerated. Plasma clearance of tirofiban was 176.7±59.8 and 187.5±81.8 ml/min, respectively, for enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin-treated patients ( P =NS). The mean difference was well within the prespecified criterion for comparability. Administration of tirofiban with enoxaparin vs. unfractionated heparin resulted in lesser variability and a trend towards greater inhibition of platelet aggregation using 5 μM adenosine phosphate agonist. More patients achieved target inhibition of platelet aggregation >70% in the tirofiban and enoxaparin group (84% vs. 65%, P =0.19). Median bleeding time was 21 min for tirofiban and enoxaparin vs. ≥30 min for tirofiban and unfractionated heparin ( P =NS). For a given level of inhibition of platelet aggregation, bleeding time was less prolonged with tirofiban and enoxaparin than tirofiban and unfractionated heparin (adjusted mean bleeding time 19.6 vs. 24.9 min, P =0.02). Tirofiban plasma concentration and clearance were comparable whether coadministered with enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin. There were no major or minor bleeding events in either group by the TIMI criteria. Interpretation: The more consistent inhibition of platelet aggregation and lower adjusted bleeding time of tirofiban and enoxaparin vs. tirofiban and unfractionated heparin support the therapeutic potential of combining these two agents. These data from the first clinical report of coadministration of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist and a low molecular weight heparin are consistent with prior data which show differential pharmacodynamic effects of enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin on platelet aggregation.

The pharmacokinetics of a selective AT1-subtype, nonpeptide, orally active, angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, were characterized in 11 patients with heart failure (New York Heart Association class II, n = 6; class III, n = 4; class IV, n = 1) after oral and intravenous administration. In these patients, average plasma clearance of losartan was 566 mL/min, volume of distribution at steady-state was 34 L, and terminal plasma half-life was 1.5 hours. Average bioavailability was 36%. No clinically significant accumulation of losartan or its active metabolite, EXP3174, occurred after multiple-dose oral administration for 7 to 8 days. Terminal plasma half-life of EXP3174 after oral administration of losartan was 7.6 hours. The pharmacokinetics of losartan in patients in this study appear to be similar to those in healthy subjects studied previously.

Renal arteriovenous fistula is a rare condition. The clinical presentations include gross hematuria, hypertension, high output heart failure and flank bruit. Interventional therapy includes observational treatment, partial or total nephrectomy, endovascular embolization and insertion of a covered stent. We present the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with heart failure symptoms of 2 years' duration prior to admission. On presentation, she had evidence of congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and increased cardiac output. Subsequent investigations led to the diagnosis of left renal arteriovenous fistula. While she opted for conservative treatment, the various therapeutic options of this uncommon condition are addressed.

Losartan, a selective angiotensin II (AT1) receptor antagonist for hypertension, is metabolized to an active carboxylic acid metabolite, E-3174, which has a longer half-life. To investigate the effects of induction of cytochrome P450 on the metabolism of losartan, we evaluated the effects of phenobarbital on the plasma profiles of losartan and E-3174 in 15 healthy male subjects. Ten subjects received a single 100 mg oral dose of losartan before and during phenobarbital administration (100 mg/day for 16 days), and five subjects received losartan before and during placebo. Urinary excretion of 6-beta-hydroxycortisol (relative to 17-hydroxycorticosteroids) was measured as an endogenous marker of cytochrome P450 induction. The geometric mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve ratios (with/without phenobarbital and 90% confidence intervals) for losartan and its metabolite (E-3174) were 0.795 (0.723, 0.875) and 0.799 (0.778, 0.820), respectively, indicating that phenobarbital treatment significantly but to a clinically minor extent reduced plasma concentrations of losartan and E-3174 (p

To support the use of a combination of losartan, a highly specific and selective AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and hydrochlorothiazide for treatment of hypertension, a pharmacokinetic drug interaction study was conducted. In this open-label, randomized, three-period, crossover study, patients with mild to moderate hypertension received a 12.5-mg tablet of hydrochlorothiazide, a 50-mg losartan tablet, or a combination tablet of 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide and 50 mg of losartan for 7 days. Twelve patients (age range, 35-55 years; mean age, 44 years) were allocated to treatment. Drug interactions were evaluated by comparing the 24-hour area under the concentration-time curve (AUC24) for losartan and its active metabolite, E-3174, when losartan (50 mg) was given alone or in combination with 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide. The urinary recovery over the 24-hour period of hydrochlorothiazide was compared for hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg) given alone or in combination with 50 mg losartan. A clinically significant interaction was defined as a treatment difference of more than 35%. There was no evidence of a clinically significant effect of hydrochlorothiazide on the pharmacokinetics of losartan or E-3174, as the geometric mean AUC24 ratio (90% confidence interval [CI]) was 1.02 (0.95, 1.09) for losartan and 1.02 (0.96, 1.09) for E-3174. Based on urinary recovery over a 24-hour period of hydrochlorothiazide, losartan did not affect the pharmacokinetics of hydrochlorothiazide, as the geometric mean ratio of urinary hydrochlorothiazide recovery (90% CI) was 0.898 (0.79, 1.20). There was a minor (17%) decrease in the AUC24 of hydrochlorothiazide after administration of the combination tablet. Coadministration of hydrochlorothiazide and losartan was well tolerated.

The pharmacokinetics of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan potassium and its active carboxylic acid metabolite EXP3174 were characterized in 18 healthy male subjects after administration of intravenous losartan, intravenous EXP3174, and oral losartan. In these subjects, the average plasma clearance of losartan was 610 ml/min, and the volume of distribution was 34 L. Renal clearance (70 ml/min) accounted for 12% of plasma clearance. Terminal half-life was 2.1 hours. In contrast, the average plasma clearance of EXP3174 was 47 ml/min, and its volume of distribution was 10 L. Renal clearance was 26 ml/min, which accounted for 55% of plasma clearance; terminal half-life was 6.3 hours. After oral administration of losartan, peak concentrations of losartan were reached in 1 hour. Peak concentrations of EXP3174 were reached in 3 1/2 hours. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve of EXP3174 was about four times that of losartan. The oral bioavailability of losartan tablets was 33%. The low bioavailability was mainly attributable to first-pass metabolism. After intravenous or oral administration of losartan the conversion of losartan to the metabolite EXP3174 was 14%.

P in the do Tirofiban And Reopro Give similar Efficacy outcomes Trial (TARGET) treated with abciximab compared with tirofiban had a lower 30-day incidence of the combined end point of death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization that reflected, in large part, a decrease in the incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction.1 We have found that the extent of platelet aggregation inhibition was greater from 15 to 60 minutes after abciximab than that after the TARGET study dosage of tirofiban (10 g/kg bolus, followed by a 0.15 g/ kg/min infusion).2–4 To identify a bolus associated with maximal inhibition of platelet aggregation, we used flow cytometry to characterize the inhibitory effects of tirofiban in blood from patients with acute coronary syndromes. In subsequent studies, the average extent of inhibition of turbidometric aggregation in response to 20 M of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was found to be 90% during the first hour when a bolus of 25 g/kg was combined with the same infusion (0.15 g/kg/min for 18 to 24 hours) employed in the TARGET study.5 In this report, we describe the concentrations of tirofiban in blood and their correlation with the inhibition of turbidometric aggregation in response to 20 M of ADP. • • • Protocols were approved by the institutional review boards of the participating institutions. All patients provided written informed consent. Eligible patients included those with an acute coronary syndrome (ischemic symptoms plus either 0.5 mm of ST-segment depression on electrocardiogram or increased troponin or creatine kinase-MB) in whom a percutaneous coronary intervention was clinically mandated and performed. Exclusion criteria included treatment with antiplatelet agents other than aspirin in the previous 14 days, thrombolytic therapy within 24 hours, renal insufficiency (creatinine 2.5 mg/dl), and contraindication to treatment with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. To perform in vitro studies, blood was obtained from patients with acute coronary syndromes before coronary intervention or treatment with an antiplatelet agent other than aspirin. After anticoagulation with corn trypsin inhibitor, a specific inhibitor of coagulation factor XIIa,6 the blood was spiked with 0, 50, 100, or 150 ng/ml of tirofiban. After incubation for 15 minutes at room temperature, the capacity to bind fibrinogen in response to 1 M of ADP was determined with the use of flow cytometry. The concentration of tirofiban in blood and its associated inhibition of platelet function were assessed in a preliminary study in which patients were treated with a 10 g/kg bolus2 and in a subsequent study in which patients were treated in a sequential, open-label, nonrandomized fashion with a 20 or 25 g/kg bolus.5 Tirofiban was administered before the start of the coronary intervention, and each bolus was combined with an 18to 24-hour infusion of 0.15 g/kg/min. Patients were treated with aspirin (325 mg before the procedure and daily) and unfractionated heparin (target activated clotting time 250 seconds). Clopidogrel (300 mg initially and then 75 mg daily) was begun after the coronary intervention ( 1 hour). The concentration of tirofiban was determined by radioimmunoassay after 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 360 minutes.7 Platelet function was assessed by light transmission aggregometry (Bio Data Corp., Helena Laboratories, Horsham, Pennsylvania), and flow cytometry before treatment and after 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes, and an additional assessment was made after 5 minutes with flow cytometry. Blood for aggregometry was anticoagulated with D-Phe-Pro-Argchloromethyl ketone (PPACK, 38 M) to avoid effects of citrate on inhibitory properties of tirofiban.8 Blood for flow cytometry was anticoagulated with corn trypsin inhibitor. Maximal turbidometric ex vivo aggregation after 4 minutes was assessed in plateletrich plasma in response to 20 M of ADP (Chronolog, Havertown, Pennsylvania). Assessment of the capacity of platelets to bind fibrinogen was performed as previously described in detail.9 Assay and fixation were performed at each site for flow cytometry. Samples were analyzed at the University of Vermont within 30 hours. As previously described,5 the primary objective was to identify a bolus dose of tirofiban that achieved a mean inhibition of platelet aggregation of 90% plus a lower bound of the 95% confidence interval of inhibition of 85% from 15 to 45 minutes after onset of treatment. The slope of the association between selected concentrations of tirofiban and the extent of From the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Prairie Cardiovascular, Springfield, Illinois; and Merck & Company, Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania. This report was supported by Merck & Company, Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania. Dr. Schneider’s address is: University of Vermont, 208 South Park Drive, Suite 2, Colchester, Vermont 05446. E-mail: djschnei@zoo.uvm.edu. Manuscript received August 7, 2002; revised manuscript received and accepted September 24, 2002.

Losartan is an orally active, nonpeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) (site-1) receptor antagonist. We conducted a multiple-dose study in healthy male volunteers to investigate the tolerability, blood pressure effects, and changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma Ang II concentration associated with once-daily administration of 100 mg losartan for a week. Subjects were studied on a standardized sodium diet (24-hour urinary sodium excretion, 98 +/- 37 [SD] mEq per 24 hours on the placebo run-in day). Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, PRA, Ang II, and aldosterone were taken during a placebo run-in day and after single and multiple (7 days) daily doses of losartan (100 mg, n = 10) or placebo (n = 4). Ang II was measured specifically by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassay. In subjects given losartan, respective decreases (systolic/diastolic) from run-in in supine blood pressure 6 hours after dosing were (mean +/- SD), compared with the placebo run-in day, first dose: -8.8 +/- 9.6/-6.8 +/- 5.0, last dose: -11.6 +/- 8.9/-7.0 +/- 4.8 mm Hg (p < 0.05 for all changes). At this 6-hour time point, corresponding increases from run-in in PRA were from 1.2 +/- 0.6 to 12.0 +/- 6.3 (first dose) and 9.6 +/- 4.9 (last dose) ng angiotensin I per milliliter per hour and in Ang II were from 4.3 +/- 1.7 to 72.4 +/- 33.3 and 45.7 +/- 14.1 pg/mL. All changes in PRA and Ang II were statistically significant within the losartan-treated group, and the biochemical changes were significantly greater than those in the placebo-treated group. The increment in Ang II was less after the last dose than after the first (p < 0.05). The drug was well tolerated by all subjects. These data indicate that, under the conditions of this study, losartan administration (100 mg/day for eight doses over 9 days) results in treatment-related decreases in blood pressure and increases in PRA and Ang II octapeptide.

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of a new angiotensin II receptor blocking agent, losartan (DuP 753, MK-954, I), and its active metabolite, EXP3174 (II), in human plasma or urine is described. The two analytes and internal standard are extracted from plasma and urine at pH 2.5 by liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed on a cyano column with ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase is composed of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer at pH 2.5. The limit of quantification for both compounds in plasma is 5 ng/ml. The limit in urine is 20 and 10 ng/ml for I and II, respectively. The assay described has been successfully applied to samples from pharmacokinetic studies.

SUMMARY: Background: The ideal treatment of lupus nephritis has yet to be defined. Both cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil have been used with encouraging results, but adverse events are frequently seen. There are no data on the use of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients with active forms of lupus nephritis (1 class III, 7 class IV and 4 class V) treated with enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium combined with corticosteroids. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.3 ± 11.2 years and the average length of follow up was 25.9 ± 8.9 months. The mean serum creatinine clearance was 93 ± 30.1 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and the mean proteinuria level was 4.5 ± 3.6 g/day. All had features that warranted aggressive treatment. Mycophenolate sodium was given for 12.9 ± 9.7 months with an averaged starting dose of 1350 ± 163 mg/day. Six patients attained complete remission and six attained partial remission with treatment. The mean interval to attain first remission (complete or partial) was 8.3 ± 5.7 weeks. At last follow up, all patients were in complete or partial remission. Apart from herpes zoster that developed in one patient, no other significant side-effects were encountered. Conclusion: Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium was effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of active lupus nephritis.

Background Fungal peritonitis (FP) is associated with significant mortality and high risk of peritoneal failure. The optimum treatment for peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated FP remains unclear. Since January 2000 we have been treating FP with a combination of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine, together with deferred catheter replacement. We examined the clinical course and outcome of the FP patients treated with this approach (study group). An outcome comparison was also made to an alternatively treated historic cohort (control group). Methods This was a single-center retrospective study. The clinical course and outcome of 13 consecutive episodes of FP occurring in 13 patients treated between January 2000 and April 2005 with the study approach were examined. The patients were treated with an incremental dose of intravenous amphotericin B to a target dose of 0.75 – 1 mg/kg body weight/day, and oral flucytosine 1 g/day upon a diagnosis of FP at 3.77 ± 0.93 days from presentation. Replacement of the peritoneal catheter was intended after complete clearing of effluent, after which, antifungal chemotherapy was continued for another 1 – 2 weeks. Their outcome was compared with 14 historic controls that were treated between April 1995 and December 1999. Results Mean age of the study group was 58.7 ± 13.2 years; male-to-female ratio was 2:11; 6 (46.1%) were diabetic. All FP were caused by Candida species ( C. albicans, 2; C. parapsilosis, 8; C. glabrata, 3). Two (15.4%) patients died before resolution of the peritonitis. The dialysate effluent cleared in 11 patients (84.6%) after 13.2 ± 3.3 days of treatment, but 2 patients died of acute myocardial infarction before catheter replacement. Nine patients had their catheters replaced at day 26.7 ± 7.7 of treatment; all 9 returned to PD after a total of 31 ± 12.2 days of antifungal chemotherapy. Reversible liver dysfunction was common with this regimen. When compared with the 14 cases in the historic control group ( Candida species, 13; Trichosporon, 1), who were treated with amphotericin B, fluconazole, or a combination of the two, and the majority (78.6%) of whose catheters were removed before day 10 of presentation, the study group appeared to have a lower technique failure rate (30.8% vs 78.6%, p = 0.013) and similar all-cause mortality (30.7% vs 28.5%, p = NS), FP-related mortality (15.4% vs 28.5%, p = NS), and length of hospitalization (48.5 ± 30.2 vs 57.0 ± 37.7 days, p = NS). However, a significantly earlier commencement of antifungal treatment in the study group (3.8 ± 0.9 vs 5.8 ± 2.4 days, p = 0.012) could be an important confounder of outcome. Conclusions Combination of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine with deferred catheter replacement appears to be associated with a relatively low incidence of PD technique failure, without affecting mortality in patients suffering from FP due to yeasts in this preliminary study. Nonetheless, drug-induced hepatic dysfunction was common; close monitoring during treatment is of paramount importance. The reasons accounting for the observed distinctive outcome remain unclear and further study is required to confirm the results and to investigate for the underlying mechanism.

Objective Fungal peritonitis (FP) is a serious complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), being associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The role of nystatin prophylaxis during antibiotic therapy in the prevention of FP remains controversial, especially in programs with a modest or low baseline FP rate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nystatin prophylaxis on the occurrence of FP in programs with a relatively modest baseline FP rate. Patients and Methods Incident and prevalent patients receiving CAPD between April 1995 and April 2005 at our center were included and divided into 2 groups. The control group included 320 patients (total follow-up 8875 patient-months) being treated without nystatin before October 1999; the nystatin group included 481 patients (total follow-up 13725 patient-months) being treated after October 1999. Nystatin tablets (500000 units, 4 times per day) were given orally during whatever use of antibiotics to cover the whole course of antibiotic therapy. Occurrence of FP and antibiotic-related FP (AR-FP) in patients with and without nystatin prophylaxis was compared. Results The two groups were of similar age but the nystatin group had a significantly higher percentage of diabetics. In addition, the nystatin group had a higher proportion of patients using disconnecting twin-bag exchange systems and had a significantly lower peritonitis rate compared with the control. There were 13 and 14 episodes of FP in the nystatin and control groups respectively. The fungal peritonitis rate of the nystatin group was slightly lower than that of the control group (0.011 vs 0.019 per patient-year) but it did not reach statistical significance. There was, however, a significant decrease in the incidence and proportion of AR-FP in the nystatin group compared with the control group, which persisted even after adjustment for the peritonitis rate. Kaplan–Meier analysis further demonstrated significantly better AR-FP-free survival in the nystatin group compared with the control group. No significant side effects were observed for nystatin. Subgroup analyses in patients of the 2 different connecting systems revealed a similar but nonsignificant trend toward reduction of AR-FP in patients given nystatin prophylaxis. Conclusion Oral nystatin prophylaxis might prevent the occurrence of AR-FP in CAPD patients, resulting in a trend toward reduction in the incidence of FP even in programs with a modest baseline FP rate. A large scale, prospective, randomized controlled trial is needed to further examine this issue.

Vibrio vulnificus is a marine bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen. Associated infections have contributed to the majority of seafood-related deaths in the United States. In patients with such predisposed clinical conditions as chronic liver disease, immunocompromised state, and end-stage renal disease, this organism has been associated with the development of life-threatening primary septicemia and severe wound infection. However, continuous ambulatory peritonitis dialysis (CAPD)–related peritonitis caused by V vulnificus has not been reported. We describe a patient receiving CAPD who developed peritonitis caused by V vulnificus after handling seafood. This case highlights the importance of strict aseptic technique during CAPD exchanges and calls for an effort in educating our dialysis patients on precautions about seafood handling.

Losartan is an orally active angiotensin II receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of hypertension. EXP3174 is an active metabolite, which contributes to the overall activity of losartan. Analytical methods for the simultaneous determination of losartan and its active metabolite EXP3174 in human plasma and urine with limited plasma sample size have been developed and validated to support a pediatric clinical program. In both methods, analytes are extracted from the matrixes by liquid-liquid extraction and separated using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) with a Turbo ionspray (TIS) interface in multiple-reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode is used for detection of the analytes in both methods. The plasma method has a lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 1 ng/ml with a linearity range of 1-500 ng/ml for losartan and EXP3174 using 100 microl of plasma. For the urine method, the LOQ for both losartan and EXP3174 is 2 ng/ml using 0.5 ml of urine, and the linearity range for both analytes is 2-1000 ng/ml. Validation procedures have proven that both methods are robust, accurate, and reproducible. Both methods have been used to assay clinical samples and provided satisfactory results.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 7 days of treatment with losartan 50 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg were evaluated in 14 patients with normal renal function and in 12 patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. The efficacy of losartan 50 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg titrated to losartan 100 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg was examined in 32 hypertensive patients with mild to moderate renal impairment who were treated for 12 weeks. Safety was assessed in both studies by the incidence of adverse experiences. After 7 days of treatment, the AUC for losartan, E-3174, and hydrochlorothiazide was slightly higher in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, but the reduction in blood pressure (BP) after 7 days was not different between the two groups. The final (week 12) mean reductions in trough sitting diastolic and systolic BP were 15.0 +/- 7.1 mmHg (p < 0.01) and 20.8 +/- 16.7 mmHg (p < 0.01), respectively. There were no observed increases in drug-related adverse experiences in either study. Overall, the combination of losartan/hydrochlorothiazide was effective in lowering blood pressure and was well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril is commonly used to treat pediatric hypertension. Because some children are unable to swallow tablets or require doses less than the lowest available enalapril tablet, an enalapril suspension was developed. This study examined the relative bioavailability of enalapril suspension (10 mg) (S) compared with 10-mg marketed VASOTEC tablets (T) in 16 healthy adult subjects. The geometric mean ratio (S/T) estimate of urinary recovery of free enalaprilat, the active moiety, was 0.92 (90% confidence interval (CI): 0.80, 1.07). Urinary recovery data indicate that approximately 50% of the dose was absorbed (50% recovered in urine as enalapril plus enalaprilat) with about 30% of the dose recovered as free enalaprilat for both S and T. The geometric mean ratios (S/T) of serum AUC and C(max) were 1.01 (90% CI: 0.90, 1.13) and 0.98 (90% CI: 0.83, 1.16), respectively. Suspension T(max) was slightly shorter (0.5 h) than that for tablet, but this difference is not clinically significant. Both formulations were well tolerated and there were no clinically significant adverse experiences. We conclude that the bioavailability of enalapril oral suspension 10-mg is similar to that of VASOTEC 10-mg tablet. Instructions for compounding enalapril are provided.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a second-draft guidance in August 1999 on the subject of in vivo bioequivalence, which is based on the concepts of individual and population bioequivalence (IBE and PBE, respectively). The intention of this guidance is to replace the 1992 guidance that requires that in vivo bioequivalence be demonstrated by average bioequivalence (ABE). Although the concepts of population and individual bioequivalence are intuitively reasonable, a detailed review of the literature has not uncovered clinical evidence to justify the additional burden to the innovator and generic companies as well as the consumer that the new guidelines would impose. The criteria for bioequivalence described in the draft guidance employ aggregate statistics that combine information about differences in bioavailability between formulation means and differences in bioavailability variation of formulations between and within subjects. The purely technical aspects of the statistical approach are reasonably sound. However, PhRMA believes that important operational issues remain that need to be resolved before any changes to current practice are implemented. PhRMA believes that the ideals of prescribability and switchability are intuitively reasonable, but it is uncertain of the extent to which the proposed guidance can achieve these goals. It is not clear whether the attainment of such goals is necessary in the evaluation of bioequivalence given the role this plays in drug development, and the lack of clinical evidence argues against a pressing need to change current practice. PhRMA is concerned that the trade-off offered by the aggregate criteria may ultimately represent more harm than good to the public interest. PhRMA recommends more rigorous evaluation of methods based on two-way crossover designs before moving to methods that require more complex designs. One such method is identified herein and contains procedures for estimating prescribability and switchability. The possibility of a phase-in or trial period to collect replicate crossover data to further evaluate IBE and PBE and possibly allow market access based on these criteria as they are being evaluated has been proposed. PhRMA believes this is unprecedented and will offer little additional information beyond that which can be obtained by simulation or has already been collected by the FDA. Simulation studies have the advantage of allowing evaluation of the sensitivity of various procedures to represent the data patterns as created within the simulation. Operating characteristics by which proposed criteria can be adequately judged have not yet been defined. The limitations of ABE for highly variable drugs and narrow therapeutic drugs are well appreciated and may be addressed by means other than a wholesale change in the current criteria.

We investigated the tolerability and angiotensin II antagonist activity of oral DuP 532 in healthy male subjects. DuP 532 (1 to 200 mg) was well tolerated, with no effect on blood pressure or heart rate. Compared with losartan (100 mg), DuP 532 (200 mg) was a weak antagonist of pressor responses to intravenous angiotensin II. Maximum inhibition of diastolic pressor response was 86% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%, 88%) approximately 4.6 hours after losartan and 48% (95% CI, 38%, 56%) 8.7 hours after DuP 532. Twenty-four hours after dosing, inhibition by losartan and DuP 532 was similar (40% to 45%). DUP 532 is extensively bound in human plasma, with an in vitro free fraction of 0.06. Although DuP 532 and EXP3174 (losartan's active metabolite) have similar AT1-receptor potency, and plasma concentrations of DuP 532 were much greater than losartan/EXP3174, the level of antagonism was much less for DuP 532. These results indicate that multiple factors determine the in vivo potency of angiotensin II antagonists, including affinity for and distribution to the receptor as modulated by plasma binding.

This was a 2-period randomized, crossover study in 8 healthy males to determine the effects of cimetidine (400 mg q.i.d. for 6 days) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan (100 mg). Cimetidine increased the AUC for losartan 18% without affecting the AUC for E-3174, the active metabolite of losartan. The increase in plasma renin activity following losartan was not affected by cimetidine (maximum mean increases 12.6 and 12.1 ng Ang I.ml-1.h-1 without and with cimetidine, respectively). These results indicate that cimetidine does not appear to alter the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of losartan to a clinically significant extent.

Abstract We investigated the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor blockade with losartan on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertensive patients (supine diastolic blood pressure, 95 to 110 mm Hg). Qualifying patients (n=51) were allocated to placebo, 25 or 100 mg losartan, or 20 mg enalapril. Blood pressure, plasma drug concentrations, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system mediators were measured on 4 inpatient days: end of placebo run-in, after first dose, and 2 and 6 weeks of treatment. Plasma drug concentrations were similar after the first and last doses of losartan. At 6 weeks, 100 mg losartan and 20 mg enalapril showed comparable antihypertensive activity. Four hours after dosing, compared with the run-in day, 100 mg losartan increased plasma renin activity 1.7-fold and Ang II 2.5-fold, whereas enalapril increased plasma renin activity 2.8-fold and decreased Ang II 77%. Both drugs decreased plasma aldosterone concentration. For losartan, plasma renin activity and Ang II increases were greater at 2 than at 6 weeks. Effects of losartan were dose related. After the last dose of losartan, plasma renin activity and Ang II changes were similar to placebo changes by 36 hours. These results indicate that long-term blockade of the feedback Ang II receptor in hypertensive patients produces modest increases of plasma renin activity and Ang II that do not appear to affect the antihypertensive response to the antagonist.

A sensitive method is described for the measurement of remoxipride in human plasma and urine. Remoxipride and its internal standard are extracted from plasma or urine at pH 12 with a mixture of hexane and methyl tert.-butyl ether. After washing the organic phase with base, the compounds are extracted into acid and analyzed on a C18 column with ultraviolet detection at 214 nm. The mobile phase is composed of acetonitrile and aqueous buffer (sodium perchlorate and phosphoric acid, pH 1.7). The limits of reliable quantitation for remoxipride are 12.5 and 50 ng/ml for plasma and urine, respectively. The run times are 6 min for plasma and 3 min for urine. The method has been successfully used to assay remoxipride clinical study samples. This mobile phase has also been successfully applied to the analysis of other basic drugs such as cimetidine, codeine, diltiazem and quinidine with minor modifications.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral nalbuphine were studied in 24 healthy male volunteers ranging in age from 21 to 30 years. On separate test days over a five-week period, subjects received single doses of each of four different formulations of nalbuphine, with a one-week washout period between treatments: 10 mg intravenously administered over two minutes, 45 mg orally given as a solution, and 45 mg orally administered in two tablet formulations (formulation A and formulation B). Blood samples were collected over 48 hours postadministration, and plasma nalbuphine concentrations were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. The mean nalbuphine plasma concentration five minutes after 10 mg intravenously was 53 ng/mL, and the half-life of nalbuphine with this route of administration was 2.3 hours. In contrast, mean maximum nalbuphine concentrations (Cmax) after the three orally administered preparations ranged from 14.4 to 15.5 ng/mL, and occurred 0.9 to 1.2 hours after dose administration. Mean elimination half-lives after administration of the three nalbuphine oral formulations were essentially identical, ranging from 6.9 to 7.7 hours. Nalbuphine plasma concentration curves decayed biexponentially regardless of route of administration or type of formulation. Absolute bioavailability of the orally administered forms of nalbuphine ranged from 16.4 to 17.4% and Cmax and AUC data further established the bioequivalence of the three oral formulations. The low absolute bioavailability and prolonged elimination half-life of nalbuphine associated with oral administration are likely due to extensive first-pass metabolism and enterohepatic circulation, respectively.

Fast, reliable, specific and sensitive methods are reported to accurately quantitate unchanged propranolol in plasma, and its major metabolites in plasma and urine after enzymatic hydrolysis without the need for solvent extraction. These methods enable the analyst to process a large number of propranolol samples in one working day and should prove valuable to clinical laboratories demanding both speed and specificity in an assay.

The formation of four major metabolites of propranolol by the liver was examined at steady state in three dogs that had undergone surgical portacaval transposition, following which injection of drug into the hindlimb delivers the total dose to the liver. Propranolol was infused directly into the liver via a hindlimb vein at dose rates ranging from 1.01 to 6.3 mg/min. In all dogs the formation of 4-hydroxypropranolol, alpha-naphthoxylactic acid, and propranolol glycol was saturable. Vmax and Km values were determined at steady state by relating the rate of excretion of each metabolite into bile and urine to the blood concentration of propranolol. The formation of propranolol glucuronide was a first order process. The use of a dog with a portacaval transposition has permitted development of a method to estimate, in vivo, the kinetic properties of enzymes responsible for hepatic first-pass metabolism of drugs.

BackgroundElderly patients are the fastest growing age group in end-stage renal failure. Data from overseas show that transplantation is a safe and reliable mode of treatment for this group of patients. However, local data about the outcome in these patients are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the outcomes of renal transplantation among elderly recipients and younger recipients.MethodsUsing the Organ Registry and Transplant System in Kwong Wah Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, adult patients who had undergone renal transplantation and who had been followed-up by the two medical units were recruited. They were divided into the control group (age < 60) and the elderly group (age ≥ 60) according to age at transplantation. The following data were collected for cross-sectional analysis: comorbid illnesses, transplantation details, immunosuppressive therapy, incidence and severity of acute rejections, incidence of infection and malignancy, graft and patient survival, and causes of graft loss and death.ResultsA total of 324 episodes of transplantation were recorded (266 controls and 58 elderly). The incidence of acute rejection was higher in the control group (18% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.08). There was a trend towards higher incidence of infection and malignancy in the elderly group, though the difference did not reach statistical significance. The graft survival rate was similar in the two groups, while the 5-year patient survival rate was worse in the elderly group (92.1% vs. 79.3%, p = 0.0058).ConclusionThe transplantation outcomes in elderly recipients are satisfactory, and age per se should not be considered a contraindication to transplantation.

Naloxone hydrochloride is extremely valuable for diagnosing and managing the opioid overdose. Due to naloxone's short half life and a long duration of action of most opioids, repeated naloxone dosing often is required to prevent the recurrence of respiratory depression. An alternative to repeated bolus administration is a continuous IV infusion. We conducted a two-phase study to determine the pharmacokinetics of naloxone and to develop a continuous dosing nomogram. In the first phase seven patients were given an IV bolus dose alone and serial plasma naloxone levels were determined. Naloxone elimination was found to be biexponential with the mean beta half life equal to 0.023 +/- 0.002 reciprocal minutes in two patients and 0.015 +/- 0.02 reciprocal minutes in five patients. In the second phase ten volunteers were given either a 2-mg or a 4-mg bolus dose followed by a 1.5-mg/hr or a 3-mg/hr continuous infusion. The mean volume of distribution of the central compartment was found to be 0.806 +/- 0.408 L/kg. The mean beta rate constant of elimination was found to be 0.036 +/- 0.027 reciprocal minutes. A computer simulation of the pharmacokinetic parameters determined in our study found that a continuous infusion of two-thirds of the bolus dose that resulted in reversal each hour will maintain the plasma naloxone levels equal to or greater than the naloxone levels that would have existed 30 minutes following the bolus dose.

The efficacy of naloxone in reducing the incidence of side effects after intrathecal injection of morphine and the effects of maternal naloxone administration on the condition of the newborn were evaluated in 40 patients. Patients in labor were given a 1-mg intrathecal injection of morphine and, 1 hr later, either a 0.4-mg bolus of naloxone, followed by a 0.4-0.6 mg/hr intravenous infusion of naloxone, or an intravenous bolus of saline, followed by an intravenous infusion of saline. Intrathecal morphine provided at least 50% pain relief in 78% of patients given naloxone, and in 82% given saline. Intravenous naloxone significantly decreased the incidence of pruritus during labor and delivery. There was no significant decrease in the incidence of nausea, vomiting, somnolence, dizziness, or urinary retention in patients given naloxone. Despite placental transfer of naloxone, neonatal outcome was not adversely affected. For both groups, maternal beta-endorphin levels decreased significantly with the onset of analgesia and returned to control levels at delivery. We conclude that intravenous infusion of naloxone reduced pruritus after intrathecal injection of 1 mg of morphine for labor pain without lessening analgesia or adversely affecting maternal or neonatal status.