[Changes in pharmacokinetics of trimecaine in patients with liver cirrhosis]

Trimecaine (Mesocain, Léciva) an analogous preparation to lidocaine is used as a local anaesthetic, antiarrhythmic and spasmolytic preparation. The purpose of the investigation was to assess the fate of trimecaine in nine patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver. The pharmacokinetics were evaluated after intravenous infusion of trimecaine administered at a rate of 150-200 mg.h-1. Plasma concentrations of the drug evaluated by gas chromatography indicate a marked retardation of trimecaine elimination in patients with liver damage. In the group of patients with cirrhosis of the liver the total clearance of the drug was lower (8.7 +/- 5.0 1.h-1), as compared with the group of patients without liver damage (34.7 +/- 19.4 1.h-1). In patients with cirrhosis of the liver also a multiple reduction of distribution volumes was observed. The results indicate a high hepatic extraction of