title: The pharmacokinetics of antipyrine in patients with graded severity of schistosomiasis.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of antipyrine have been studied in patients with schistosomiasis. In comparison to a control group of subjects (n = 6), patients with early (active) schistosomiasis (passing live ova in urine or stools without clinical and laboratory evidence of liver involvement; n = 6) exhibited similar pharmacokinetic parameters. Of seven patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (exhibiting hepatic fibrosis, splenomegaly, at least one episode of haematemesis, ascites), five showed markedly enhanced antipyrine half-life and reduced clearance. Compared to controls, the mean half-life of this group was increased from 10.9 +/- 2.4 to 19.9 +/- 9.5 h (mean +/- s.d.; P less than or equal to 0.05) and clearance reduced from 3.81 +/- 0.74 to 2.18 +/- 0.80 l h-1 (P less than or equal to 0.01). There was no change in the apparent volume of distribution. Liver biopsy was performed on all patients diagnosed as having hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in the 2 weeks prior to the antipyrine study. The results of this study indicate that hepatic microsomal metabolism is impaired in patients with advanced hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000983:Antipyrine