“In vitro” studies on the fate of diphenylhydantoin in uremia

Abstract “In vitro” studies were undertaken to evaluate the fate of DPH in blood of uremic patients. DPH incubated for 18 h at 37°C disappears from plasma in the presence of erythrocytes and more when the blood underwent hemolysis. This phenomenon was more pronounced in uremic blood. These findings suggest not only that DPH is absorbed onto the erythrocyte membrane, but also that it is bound by erythrocyte contents. It could be possible that, because of a low binding capacity of the albumin carrier in uremic blood, the drug penetrates more easily the erythrocyte membrane and is bound there. An intraery throcyte enzymatic metabolism of DPH is not excluded.