RENAL EFFECTS OF INTERMITTENT VERSUS CONTINUOUS-INFUSION OF IBUPROFENIN THE PRIMATE

The clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is gaining wi de acceptance and acute oliguric renal failure in association with the administration of ibuprofen has been reported. This study was designe d to evaluate the renal effects of intermittent versus continuous intr avenous infusion of ibuprofen (Motrin) over a 24-h period in the anest hetized non-pregnant baboon. A total of 50 mg/kg of ibuprofen was eith er infused continuously or given as a bolus in four divided doses (int ermittent). Control animals received only normal saline. Mean aortic p ressure showed a tendency to decrease with time in all groups studied with a significant decrease occurring in the infusion group. There wer e no significant changes in the renal artery flow, renal resistance, c entral venous pressure and heart rate within the groups. Serum urea ni trogen decreased and was significantly different from the baseline val ue at 24 h in the infusion group. Serum creatinine, however, showed no such changes. Although, urinary output and creatinine clearance showe d a tendency to decrease in the treated groups, it was not significant ly different. Plasma renin activity decreased from 9.95 to 2.3 ng/ml/h r in the control group but showed no significant changes in others. Se rum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were well maintained. The circulating levels of ibuprofen reached a steady state after 2 h in th e infusion group. The results of this study demonstrate that continuou s infusion of ibuprofen does not possess an advantage over its intermi ttent administration. Despite the modifications we have observed in re nal flow and function, this drug appears to be safe in the dose levels me have used in these experiments.