Drug induction of hepatic enzymes in the elderly.

Abstract

Previous workers have suggested that hepatic enzyme induction by drugs does not occur in the elderly. We have studied the effect of a potent enzyme inducer--glutethimide--on a group of nine patients over the age of 70 years, using antipyrine clearance as a measure of hepatic drug metabolism. After six days treatment with glutethimide, antipyrine clearance rose from 22.8 +/- 4.5 ml/min to 38.3 +/- 7.6 ml/min (P less than 0.001). The results suggest that the elderly are at risk for the full range of drug interactions due to hepatic microsomal enzyme induction.