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1. Serum prolactin levels were measured in large cohorts of schizophrenic patients (67 males and 42 females) and normal subjects (78 males and 42 females). 2. There was no significant differences between the serum prolactin levels of patients and controls, except in the age group 15-29 years. There were no significant differences between the serum prolactin levels of males and females, either among the patients or the control subjects. 3. The rise in serum prolactin levels after the commencement of neuroleptic medication in the patients was greater in females than in males even though the female patients received neuroleptics at lower doses. 4. These data indicate that serum prolactin levels in unmedicated males and females are similar; however, the prolactin response to neuroleptic medication is greater in females than in males.

Initial UAE is a strong predictor of albuminuria progression in type II diabetic patients.

Summary:The pharmacokinetics of busulphan were studied in 23 thalassaemic children undergoing BMT. Patients received busulphan at a dose of either 16 mg/kg with cyclophosphamide and ATG (Group A) or 600 mg/m 2 (with cyclophosphamide alone) (Group B) in 16 divided doses every 6 h over 4 days. Busulphan levels were analyzed by a modified GC-MS method. The dose of busulphan/kg for patients in group B was 64% (range 56-71%) higher than that for patients in group A. The mean AUC, Css, Cmax and MRV were significantly higher in group B as compared with group A for both doses 1 and 13. There was no significant difference in Vd/F, T1/2 and Kel between the two groups. A significant decrease in AUC and Css was found between 1st and 13th doses in group B, but not in group A. The Cl/F values in group A were significantly higher than those in group B after dose 1, but not after dose 13. No increase in toxicity due to the higher dose of busulphan was noted. We conclude that busulphan at 600 mg/m 2 results in much higher systemic exposure to the drug as compared to 16 mg/kg, without increase in toxicity in children with beta thalassaemia major. Keywords: busulphan; pharmacokinetics; bone marrow transplantation; thalassaemia Busulphan is widely used in conditioning regimens for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). [1][2][3][4][5][6] It is most commonly used at 16 mg/kg (total dose) over 4 days. Lucarelli et al 6 have used a total of 14-16 mg/kg of busulphan in thalassaemic children undergoing BMT. Rejection of the graft is a major cause of failure among them and occurs in up to 32% of class III patients. 6 Recent studies have shown that children may need a higher dose (600 mg/m 2 ) to achieve the same systemic exposure to the drug as adults. 7 It is possible that this may help reduce the high incidence of graft rejection in these patients. There has been concern about the toxicities of busulphan at such Correspondence: Dr A Srivastava, Department of Hematology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore-632 004, Tamil Nadu, India Received 14 August 1998; accepted 4 February 1999 a high dose. Pharmacokinetic data of busulphan in adults have shown a significant correlation between systemic exposure, particularly the area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC) and the incidence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver. 8 However, many studies have demonstrated that children undergoing BMT for both malignant and genetic disorders 7,9-11 tolerate this dose well. There are limited data on the pharmacokinetics of busulphan at 16 mg/kg in children with beta thalassaemia major, most of whom have varying degrees of chronic liver disease. 12,13 There are no data regarding the pharmacokinetics of busulphan at 600 mg/m 2 in this group of patients. In this report, we describe the comparative pharmacokinetics of busulphan at these two dosages, 16 mg/kg and 600 mg/m 2