title: Absorption and bioavailability of pentaerithrityl-tetranitrate (PETN, Dilcoran 80).
abstract: The effects of 80 mg pentaerithrityl-tetranitrate (PETN) as suspension or formulated as tablets were compared to placebo in a single blind, randomized, crossover study in 18 healthy subjects (study A), and the bioequivalence of two tablet formulations (marketed Dilcoran 80 vs a new formulation) was studied in 24 healthy subjects after administration of single oral doses of 80 mg PETN according to a placebo controlled, randomized, double blind, two-way crossover study design (study B). The perfusion of the right middle finger was measured by rheography (altitude A of the changes of resistance and of the incisure D) before and 24 h post-dose, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured in supine position at the same time. The values of area under curve (AUC) of the ratio A/D were calculated by the trapezoidal rule. In study A the mean A/D-values were reduced from about 2.0 to about 1.3 after intake of PETN (solution or tablet) with a minimum 60 to 90 min postdose (solution) and 2 h postdose (tablet). A significant reduction in this ratio was seen up to 8 (solution) or 12 h (tablet) post dose. Changes in blood pressure were not observed while the heart rate decreased in the subjects of all three groups 1 to 2 h postdose followed by an increase by 6 to 10 beats per min. After subtraction of the AUC values of placebo from the PETN-derived AUC values, mean values of 6.61 (SD 1.52, solution) and 7.25 (SD 1.48, A/D*h, tablet) were calculated (p > 0.1, study A).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Hochschule Erfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Haustein
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hüller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013535:Suspensions; D013607:Tablets; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate