The effect of levcromakalim (BRL 38227) on bladder function in patients with high spinal cord lesions

• Published in: British journal of clinical pharmacology Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 207 - 209
• Main Authors: Komersova, K, Rogerson, JW, Conway, EL, Lim, TC, Brown, DJ, Krum, H, Jackman, GP, Murdoch, R, Louis, WJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.1995; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Benzopyrans - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cromakalim; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Potassium Channels - drug effects; Pyrroles - pharmacology; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic - physiopathology; Urinary system; Urodynamics - drug effects; Bladder function; Human; Nervous system diseases; Agonist; Intravenous administration; Hyperreactivity; Urinary bladder; Detrusor muscle; Central nervous system disease; Ionic channel; Spinal cord disease; Potassium
• ISSN: 0306-5251; 1365-2125
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1995.tb04435.x

The effects of the potassium channel opener levcromakalim (BRL 38227) 7.5 micrograms kg‐1 were examined on urodynamic variables and blood pressure during inflow and voiding cystometry in six high spinal cord lesion patients. Levcromakalim administration significantly increased the duration of bladder contraction (197 +/‐ 128 s to 267 +/‐ 167 s, P < 0.05) and also reduced blood pressure (126 +/‐ 13/67 +/‐ 9 mm Hg to 104 +/‐ 25/52 +/‐ 12 mm Hg) but was without effect on other urodynamic parameters. Because of concerns about hypotensive responses, further studies involving higher doses of levcromakalim should be considered only if the drug was administered intravesically.