Drug metabolism in non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis and other liver diseases
Narang, A.P.; Mathur, V.S.; Koshy, A.; Nath, N.; Datta, D.V.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 74: 266-272
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6796511 Document Number: 177247
Antipyrine was used as a model drug to investigate drug metabolism in patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHO). The liver function tests in these disorders were usually within normal limits. The results were compared with those obtained in patients with cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis (CAH). A prolongation in antipyrine half-life (t1/2) was observed in NCPF (20.63 .+-. 1.00 h) and EHO (19.01 .+-. 1.48 h) as compared to controls (11.63 .+-. 0.86 h). The increase in t1/2 of patients with NCPF was comparable to that observed in cirrhosis (25.60 .+-. 1.98 h) and CAH (31.80 .+-. 2.37 h). The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) decreased in all these disorders. Activities of drug metabolizing enzymes (aminopyrine N-demethylase and bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase) were significantly lower in liver biopsy material. Diminished activities of the drug metabolizing enzymes are evidently responsible for drug metabolism reduction.