Influence of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine on the hepatotoxic effect of cyclosporine A.
Calcium antagonists have a protective effect on different forms of nephrotoxicity due to cyclosporine A (CsA). The objective of the present study was to examine the influence of a calcium antagonist on the liver function in CsA-treated patients after kidney transplants. Different quantitative liver function tests were performed in six patients before and 3 months after administration of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine. Indocyanine green clearance (ICG-Cl) as a marker for hepatic blood flow and excretion showed a significant increase under nitrendipine. In addition, there was an improvement of the galactose elimination capacity. Although nitrendipine and lidocaine are both metabolized by the cytochrome P system, there was no reduction in lidocaine clearance. These results suggest an improvement of liver function under nitrendipine. Whether these findings alone are the expression of an improved liver blood flow or whether there is an additional hepatoprotective characteristic of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine cannot be determined.
Zotz
R B
RB
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Essen, Germany.
Beste
M
M
Breuer
N
N
Goebell
H
H
Philipp
T
T
Wagner
K
K
D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016572:Cyclosporine; D009568:Nitrendipine