Sulphinpyrazone in cardiovascular elderly azotemic patients: a proposal of a 'guided' incremental dose schedule.

Renal tolerability of a guided incremental dose schedule of sulphinpyrazone was evaluated in an open study of 2-month duration, performed in twenty-one cardiovascular elderly azotemic patients (thirteen males, eight females; mean age: 79 years, S.D.: 7 X 3 years). Starting dosage was 200 mg per day; daily dosage was then increased, every 4 days, by 200 mg or kept constant for another 4 days, according to each patient's basal renal function, up to the maintenance dose: 800 mg/day. Eighty-one per cent of the patients followed a successful incremental pathway, 9% kept a constant daily dosage of 200 mg for 8 days, reaching then the maintenance daily dose without any problems. Nine per cent withdrew at 200 mg/day because renal function deteriorated at two consecutive visits. Renal function of the patients who completed the study significantly improved (two-way ANOVA, p less than 0.01). General tolerability was good. The proposed incremental dose schedule of sulphinpyrazone can be successfully used in the treatment of cardiovascular elderly azotemic patients.