Enzyme induction by enflurane in man.

Concentrations of 6-beta-hydroxycortisol (6-OHF), a polar metabolite of cortisol formed in the endoplasmic reticulum (microsomes) of the liver, and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) were measured in the urines of six healthy adult male volunteers exposed to a mean of 9.6 MAC-hours of enflurane anesthesia as an index of possible enzyme induction. The ratio of 6-OHF to 17-OHCS in 24-hour urine specimens collected five days before anesthesia was compared with the ratio of these metabolites in 24-hour urine specimens collected 16 to 18 hours after anesthesia. The ratio of 6-OHF to 17-OHCS increased markedly in five and decreased slightly in one volunteer following anesthesia. The results indicate that enflurane may cause induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes.