Antipyrine metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus

1. A pharmacokinetic study of antipyrine was performed in healthy volunteers and diabetic subjects, ten in each group. After a single oral dose of antipyrine (18 mg/kg) multiple samples of saliva were collected for the determination of antipyrine concentration and a pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out. 2. The mean salivary half-life of antipyrine was found to be significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled diabetes as compared to the healthy subjects. However, there was no significant difference in volume of distribution and metabolic clearance rates. 3. After 15 days of insulin therapy, there was a significant reduction in the mean half-life of antipyrine in the diabetic patients. The mean half-life of antipyrine in the patients with controlled diabetes was not significantly different from that of the normal healthy subjects. 4. There was no significant correlation between the salivary half-life of antipyrine and a 2 hour postprandial blood sugar level in the diabetic patients. 5. Our data suggest impaired hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in patients with uncontrolled diabetes which was corrected after 15 days of insulin therapy.