title: [Evaluation of the total hepatic function after treatment with fosinopril in hypertensive patients with liver cirrhosis].
abstract: Fosinopril is distinguished from other ACE inhibitors by a pharmacokinetic pecularity in the sense that is can be metabolized either by liver or kidney. This was the rationale of the present research the aim of which was to verify if administered to patients with liver cirrhosis the drug was liable to alter global liver function and ability to metabolize drugs. Eight cirrhotic males, mean age 56 years, also suffering from high blood pressure, were studied. In these patients, liver and kidney function tests (BUN, creatinine blood level, serum and urinary electrolytes, creatinine clearance, calcium and phosphor blood level, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase prothrombin time, cholinesterase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase) were carried out at baseline and after 30 days' fosinopril treatment (1 capsule every morning in the fasting state); in addition total functioning liver mass was assessed by the galactose test, and drug-metabolizing capacity by the antipyrine test. Treatment resulted in a significant improvement of pressure values in all patients (p < 0.01) and did not alter liver and kidney function parameters. Besides, no side effects were registered, especially no case of orthostatic hypotension. The antipyrine test was not influenced by fosinopril treatment. Therefore, short-term treatment with this ACE-inhibitor can be concluded to be effective and not to cause additional alterations of liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Facoltà di medicina e chirurgia, II Università degli Studi di Napoli.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loguercio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piscopo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valese
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
mesh_terms: D017328:Fosinopril / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D017328:Fosinopril
vernacular_title: Valutazione della funzionalità epatica globale dopo trattamento con fosinopril in pazienti ipertesi affetti da cirrosi epatica.