These studies into the intracellular clinical pharmacology of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors illustrate potential clinical implications as determinants of therapeutic success. Moreover, these findings provide several leads and a strong impetus for future investigations with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors particularly when given in combination and sequentially.

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A B S T R A C T The saluretic effect of the thiazide diuretics has been attributed to inhibition of sodium reabsorption in the distal nephron of the kidney. Recent micropuncture studies have shown, however, that chlorothiazide administration can also inhibit sodium reabsorption in the proximal convolution. To clarify the site of the saluretic effect of chlorothiazide, these micropuncture studies examined the effect of chlorothiazide on chloride transport in the nephron. The effect of chlorothiazide on chloride transport was studied because chlorothiazide's effectiveness as a saluretic is largely due to its ability to enhance sodium chloride excretion; if only changes in sodium transport are examined, it would be then difficult to determine if sodium as bicarbonate or as chloride is affected, since chlorothiazide can inhibit carbonic anhydrase. One group of rats was studied before and after 15 mg/kg per h chlorothiazide. For comparison, another group of rats was studied before and after 2 mg/kg per h benzolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Fractional chloride delivery from the proximal tubule was similarly increased in both groups; from 59.4 to 71.0% by chlorothiazide administration, P < 0.001, and from 54.3 to 68.2% by benzolamide administration, P < 0.001. The increased delivery of chloride from the proximal tubule was largely reabsorbed before the early distal tubule as fractional chloride delivery to this site increased only from 5.08 to 7.40% after chlorothiazide administration, P <0.001, and from 4.50 to 6.29% after benzolamide administration, P <0.01. Benzolamide had no effect on chloride reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule. However, chlorothiazide administration resulted in a marked decrease in distal tubular chloride reabsorption, the fraction of filtered chloride present at the late distal tubule Portions of this paper appeared as abstracts in

The use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors in children has lagged behind that in adults because of the lack of suitable pediatric formulations and information on safe and effective dosing regimens. This study was designed to obtain pharmacokinetic information on indinavir, administered to HIV-infected children also receiving therapy with two nucleoside agents, and to explore relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and anti-HIV effect. Indinavir was initiated at a dose of 500 mg/m 2 every 8 h. Plasma indinavir concentrations were measured every 4 weeks; the dose or dosing interval was adjusted to maintain trough concentrations of >0.1 mg/liter. All children were evaluated clinically at baseline and every 4 weeks.

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Acyclovir, ganciclovir and (R)-9-[4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine are active in vitro against the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) but their in vivo anti-EBV activity is not well understood. We developed a novel, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography assay with ultraviolet detection for measuring acyclovir, ganciclovir and (R)-9-[4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine in human plasma to identify quantitative relationships between in vitro anti-EBV activity and therapeutic response. Characteristics of the assay include a low plasma volume (200 μL), perchloric acid protein precipitation, use of penciclovir as the internal standard, run times less than 8 min and a 50 ng/mL lower limit of quantification. The within- and between-assay variability is 0.7–4.8 and 1.0–7.9%, respectively. Accuracy for all three drugs ranges from 89.5 to 106.4% for four quality controls (50, 100, 1000 and 10,000 ng/mL). This assay supports pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of candidate anti-EBV drugs in children and adults with EBV infections.

Low-cost generic antiretroviral drugs are available in resource-limited settings for treatment of HIV infections. However, few bioequivalence data in specific populations in which these generics are likely to be used are available. We conducted a randomized crossover bioequivalence study of generic and brand name formulations of nevirapine, zidovudine, and lamivudine in HIV-negative Indian women using US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria. Subjects took single doses of all formulations separated by a 14-day washout period. Plasma concentrations were measured over 96 hours during each study period. Average bioequivalence was determined using natural log-transformed maximum concentration (C(max)) and area-under-the-concentration-time curve (AUC) mean ratio data. Fifteen Indian women were enrolled. The 90% confidence intervals for nevirapine (14 subjects) and lamivudine (15 subjects) C(max), AUC from 0 to the last measurable time point (AUC(0-t)), and AUC from 0 to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) mean ratios and zidovudine (15 subjects) AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-infinity) mean ratios were all within 0.80 to 1.25. However, the 90% confidence interval for zidovudine C(max) mean ratio was 0.70 to 1.46. Generic and brand name nevirapine and lamivudine met FDA average bioequivalence criteria. Lack of average bioequivalence for zidovudine was found for C(max) but is not expected to be clinically significant, because the total AUC values were similar between formulations.

Background: HIV protease inhibitors are recommended as part of combination antiretroviral therapy. Dual protease inhibitor therapy is also being used clinically. Consequently, a simultaneous assay for indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir was developed. Methods: Indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir were extracted from plasma (250 μL) with methyl-t-butyl ether at basic pH after addition of an internal standard (A-86093). The compounds were separated on a Keystone BetaBasic C4 column (250 × 3 mm i.d.) at 40 °C with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-50 mmol/L ammonium formate buffer, pH 4.1 (52:48, by volume) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and the internal standard (A-86093) were detected at 218 nm, and saquinavir was detected at 235 nm. The method was validated by analysis of five triplicate analyses of calibrators along with quality-control samples at three different concentrations prepared in human plasma. Results: The extraction recovery was 87–92%. Within-run accuracy for quality-control samples was 6–8%, with CVs of 2–8%. Limits of quantification were 40–50 μg/L for indinavir, nelfinavir, and ritonavir, and 20 μg/L for saquinavir. Cross-validation with a liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy method for saquinavir and nelfinavir was conducted with patient samples. Regression analysis revealed a good correlation (r2 &gt;0.94) between methods. Larger variations at concentrations &gt;4000 μg/L were observed with nelfinavir. Interference with drugs commonly used in AIDS patients was not observed. Pharmacokinetic profiles for two patients on dual protease therapy were determined. Conclusions: A reliable and rugged simultaneous HPLC assay for four HIV protease inhibitors was developed. The assay method is convenient for clinical laboratories involved in therapeutic drug monitoring for HIV protease inhibitors. The assay has enough sensitivity to conduct pharmacokinetic studies in patients taking more than one HIV protease inhibitor along with other antiretroviral medications.