Pamidronate is a second-generation bisphosphonate that undergoes negligible biodegradation and is eliminated exclusively by renal excretions. Nineteen cancer patients were stratified according to baseline creatinine clearance (Clcr): group I, Clcr > 90 mL/min (n = 6); group II, Clcr 61 mL/min to 90 mL/min (n = 6); group III, Clcr 30 mL/min to 60 mL/min (n = 3); group IV, Clcr < 30 mL/min (n = 4). All patients received a single, 90-mg dose of pamidronate disodium administered in a 4-hour intravenous infusion. Plasma and urine samples were collected at intervals up to 36 and 120 hours, respectively, after the start of infusion and were assayed for pamidronate, using validated high-performance liquid chromatography. Pamidronate's pharmacokinetics were characterized by a short distribution phase (2-3 hours) followed by rapid elimination of the drug in urine. Elimination of pamidronate was slower in patients in group IV with a mean +/- standard deviation area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-36) of 19.0 +/- 4.60 micrograms.hr/mL compared with 8.1 +/- 3.13 micrograms.hr/mL in patients in group I. A linear relationship in Clcr was observed for AUC0-36 (r = 0.67), urinary excretion (r = 0.69), and renal clearance (r = 0.81). Renal clearance was proportional to Clcr for patients in all four renal-function groups. In the treatment of bone metastases of malignancy, successive doses of pamidronate are generally separated by weeks; thus, plasma accumulation in patients with renal impairment is not expected to be clinically relevant. A reduction in dose of pamidronate disodium should not be necessary in cancer patients with renal impairment.

These data are consistent with the pharmacokinetics of valsartan in that biliary excretion is the main route of elimination.

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The percutaneous absorption of diclofenac was studied in ten healthy volunteers treated with Emulgel containing 1.16% diclofenac diethylammonium for 8 d as follows: a single application of 5 g Emulgel on days 1 and 8, and two applications d-1 on days 2-7. Plasma concentration profiles of unchanged diclofenac and urinary concentrations of total diclofenac and metabolites (sum of free and conjugated) were determined. High inter-individual variations in plasma and urine data were recorded, due probably to the permeability and the hydration of the skin. Steady state was reached after 2 d of twice-daily administration. Plasma concentrations were low but remained in the range 10-50 nmol L-1 over the full day for most of the subjects, indicating prolonged absorption from the application site.

Co-administration of single doses of V and A does not modify the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs to a clinically relevant degree. With respect to pharmacodynamics, a single dose of A attenuates the increase in plasma ANG II and PRA in response to a single dose of V, and V has no effect on the hemodynamic response to exercise. The combined treatment with single doses of 160 mg V and 100 mg A has some additive effects on resting blood pressure in healthy, normotensive subjects.

Valsartan (CGP 48933), a specific blocker of the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor subtype 1 (AT1 receptor) was administered in single, oral doses of 40 mg and 80 mg to six healthy, normotensive male volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial. The aims of the study were a) to assess the extent, time course and dose-dependency of inhibition of the pressor effect of exogenous Ang II; and b) to attempt to correlate AT1 receptor blockade with the drug levels in plasma and with other markers of biological activity of the trial drug such as plasma renin activity (PRA). Using the Finapres device and i.v. bolus injections of exogenous Ang II, AT1 receptor blockade was assessed by measuring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) on a beat-by-beat basis. A dose-response curve for Ang II was obtained for each subject before and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h after administration of placebo and of the two doses of valsartan. PRA was measured with a conventional radioimmunoassay method. Data evaluation included a) descriptive analysis of the changes of the Ang II dose-response curves after valsartan, as compared to the curve on placebo; b) calculation of the pressor dose D30 of Ang II at each time-point, using linear regression; c) assessment of the effect of 4 micrograms Ang II on systolic BP and HR and the calculation of the percentage inhibition of these effects after valsartan; d) description of the relationship between drug levels in plasma and the measures of AT1 blockade, including pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling with an Emax model for the percentage inhibition of systolic BP and HR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Twelve young (mean age 23 years, range 18–28) and 12 elderly (mean age 76 years, range 65–89) volunteers were given a single oral dose of 80 mg valsartan after an overnight fast. Each group consisted of six male and six female subjects. Mean systemic exposure to valsartan was higher in the elderly when compared with the young (AUC(0–24 h), 52% increase and AUC(0–∞), 70% increase). Variability, as shown by the coefficient of variation (CV), was larger for the elderly subjects and ANOVA of the log transformed AUC showed a significant difference between the two groups. This difference was largely brought about by five elderly subjects (one male, four females), whose AUC was about 2‐fold higher than the rest of the group. For the remaining elderly subjects, plasma valsartan AUC was similar to that observed for the young volunteers. This higher systemic exposure in five of the elderly subjects is not thought to be of clinical relevance when data from the patient population are considered. Other covariates—such as body weight, comedication, creatinine clearance, valsartan kinetics (absorption rate, distribution, and elimination)—did not explain the higher AUC in this subset of the elderly group. Data from the present study were compared with population kinetic data obtained from larger clinical trials including hypertensive patients in all age groups. Using this population approach, there was no difference in the pharmacokinetics of valsartan between male and female patients. Also, a relationship between plasma clearance of valsartan and age was established. The median age of patients in the hypertensive pool was 55 years. For an average 70‐year‐old patient, plasma clearance of valsartan is predicted to fall by 22% compared with an average 55‐year‐old. For the population, this difference is not sufficient to warrant initial dose adjustment based on age per se. The covariate age, does not completely explain the variability in the pharmacokinetics of valsartan within the general population. The treatment was well tolerated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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