Effects of tenoxicam on renal function and the disposition of inulin and p-aminohippurate in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic renal failure.

1. The effects of tenoxicam on renal function were studied in 10 patients with chronic renal failure (creatinine clearance 46.7 +/- 11.9 ml min-1 1.73 m-2) and eight healthy volunteers. A parallel treatment control group of eight healthy volunteers received placebo. Tenoxicam was given orally in a dose of 40 mg daily for 2 days followed by 20 mg daily for a further 8 days. Renal function was assessed by measurement of the renal clearances of inulin and p-aminohippurate (PAH) using the single injection technique before and during administration of tenoxicam. 2. In the healthy volunteers there were no changes in glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, or the urinary excretion of N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta 2-microglobulin on the 3rd and 10th days of treatment with tenoxicam. The mean urinary excretion of prostaglandins E2 and 6-keto F1 alpha decreased during treatment but there was great individual variation and the differences were not statistically significant. Tenoxicam had no effect on the half-life, clearance, volume of distribution or urinary recovery of inulin and PAH. 3. There was no significant change in the clearance of inulin and creatinine after treatment with tenoxicam for 10 days in the patients with chronic renal failure. However, in this group there was a significant increase in plasma creatinine on the 3rd and 6th days with a return to pretreatment levels by the 10th day. The administration of tenoxicam for 10 days was associated with a small but significant increase in the plasma half-life and volume of distribution of inulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)