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Biomedical subjects

A Breckenridge

Publications and source records attributed to A Breckenridge.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Changes in plasma -glutamyl transpeptidase activity associated with alterations in drug metabolism in man.

A significant rise in plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity (GGT) was observed on 13 out of 14 occasions on which patients on long-term treatment with the oral anticoagulant warfarin were given amylobarbitone, quinalbarbitone, or phenazone (antipyrine) for 30 days. In 13 of these 14 studies there was evidence that drug administration had stimulated the rate of warfarin metabolism. One patient showed no increase in plasma GGT activity, yet a significantly increased rate of warfarin metabolism, and another patient showed an increase in plasma GGT activity without a change in warfarin metabolism. When alterations in both plasma GGT activity and plasma warfarin concentration occurred together in response to drug administration the changes followed a similar time course, occurring after about one week of drug administration with maximal changes at about 10 or 15 days. Administration of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, nitrazepam, and methaqualone did not stimulate the rate of warfarin metabolism in four patients studied, but plasma GGT activity increased significantly in two of these four instances. The implications of these observations in the interpretation of plasma GGT activities are discussed.

Acyltransferases↗

Immediate decrease by hydrocortisone of the plasma half-life of antipyrine.

Infusion of hydrocortisone in man caused an immediate shortening of the plasma half-life of antipyrine. There was no change in the 'apparent' volume of distribution of antipyrine and the plasma concentrations of hydrocortisone during the infusion remained within physiological limits. Similar changes in plasma half-lives of antipyrine were observed in the dog, but in vitro studies of drug oxidation with dog liver failed to show any difference between biopsy samples taken before and during steroid infusion.Many drugs and chemicals are known to stimulate rates of drug oxidation in both man and animals. Administration of these inducing agents results in an increase in the activity of enzymes catalyzing drug oxidation, most of which are located with-in the endoplasmic reticulum of liver cells. In man there is usually a delay of 4-8 days before an appreciable change in rates of drug metabolism is seen when such an agent is administered (Breckenridge, Orme, Thorgeirsson, Davies & Brooks, 1971); in rats, the administration of enzyme-inducing agents causes increased rates of drug metabolism only 24-48 h after their administration.We wish to report in this paper an immediate and hitherto undescribed effect of hydrocortisone on rates of antipyrine elimination in man.

Adult↗

Interactions of benzodiazepines with warfarin.

Administration of nitrazepam (10 mg nightly), diazepam (15 mg/day), and chlordiazepoxide (15 and 30 mg/day) had no effect on steady-state plasma warfarin concentrations, the plasma half-life of warfarin, or anticoagulant control in patients and it appears safe to prescribe these agents to patients on long-term oral anticoagulants. Urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol, however, increased in two out of five patients given chlordiazepoxide. In rats pretreatment with chlordiazepoxide (40 mg/kg for four days) caused stimulation of liver microsomal enzyme activity but neither diazepam nor nitrazepam had this effect.

Adult↗