Buflomedil kinetics in patients with liver disease

The pharmacokinetics of single intravenous (100 mg) and oral (450 mg) doses of buflomedil was studied in 3 and 6 patients respectively, suffering from chronic liver disease. Comparisons of buflomedil kinetic parameters between the patients and healthy subjects indicate a significant increase in AUC0 infinity, T beta, u' and a significant decrease in Cle', Clnr when the patients received the oral dose, but no significant differences when the patients received the intravenous dose probably due to the small number of patients explored. The elimination of buflomedil is impaired in chronic hepatic disease. It seems advisable to reduce the usual dose to half its value when the prothrombin index is around 50% associated with a low albumin concentration and a low factor V.