Seven subjects who underwent jejunoileal bypass surgery for massive obesity participated in a study to examine the relative bioavailability of digoxin before and one to two months after surgery. They were given a loading dose of 1 mg digoxin in divided oral doses followed by oral maintenance doses of 0.5 mg daily. There were no significant differences in the area under the serum concentration time curve, steady state serum levels or 24 hour steady state excretion of digoxin before and after surgery. We conclude that the bioavailability of digoxin from the Lanoxin tablets employed is not impaired in these patients, although urinary d-xylose and 24 hour fecal fat excretion indicated moderate to severe malabsorption after surgery.

Eighty patients with proved calcium urolithiasis participated in an outpatient study designed to define the most likely metabolic problem related to the cause of the stone disease. Diagnostic categories included absorptive hypercalciuria (33 patients), renal leak hypercalciuria (20 patients), hypomagnesiumuria (27 patients), hyperuricemia and hyperuricuria (16 patients), hyperoxaluria (15 patients), normal stone-former (4 patients), renal tubular acidosis (2 patients) and suspicion of hyperparathyroidism (7 patients). Of the 80 patients 40 had more than 1 defect. Patients with a high suspicion of hyperparathyroidism were excluded from the study. Based on these criteria treatment plans incorporating medications, diet or both were instituted. Of 21 patients observed for greater than 2 years 90 per cent have shown no new stone disease.

Because of the unusual clinical course of a patient with hepatic cirrhosis, refractory ascites, and hepatorenal syndrome, we were able to examine the complex interrelationships between massive ascites, renin-aldosterone activity, and renal and hepatic function before and after placement of a peritoneojugular vein (LeVeen) shunt. Measurements indicated that when the shunt was functioning, renin-aldosterone production was suppressed, the hepatorenal syndrome was reversed, and ascites remitted. These data suggest that hyperreninemia, hyperaldosteronism, and functional renal abnormalities of this disorder are potentially reversible and arise primarily from the imbalance between formation and drainage of hepatosplanchnic lymph rather than from hepatocellular dysfunction, lowered plasma oncotic pressure, or portal hypertension.

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