Drug induction of hepatic enzymes in the elderly.
Previous workers have suggested that hepatic enzyme induction by drugs does not occur in the elderly. We have studied the effect of a potent enzyme inducer--glutethimide--on a group of nine patients over the age of 70 years, using antipyrine clearance as a measure of hepatic drug metabolism. After six days treatment with glutethimide, antipyrine clearance rose from 22.8 +/- 4.5 ml/min to 38.3 +/- 7.6 ml/min (P less than 0.001). The results suggest that the elderly are at risk for the full range of drug interactions due to hepatic microsomal enzyme induction.
D000368:Aged; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005984:Glutethimide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*
D005984:Glutethimide; D000983:Antipyrine