Objective: To test the effect of the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist hydroxybutanedioate (R116301) in human hand veins in vivo.
Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study we used the hand vein compliance method to evaluate the inhibition of the response to substance P by R116301.
Results: In hand veins preconstricted with phenylephrine to 21% +/- 2.6% (mean +/- SEM, placebo) and 25% +/- 3.0% (R116301) of the initial diameter, substance P resulted in a mean venodilation of 84% +/- 7% and 87% +/- 13% (P = .8) before administration of placebo and R116301, respectively. Oral administration of 300 mg R116301 resulted in peak plasma concentrations of 1.16 +/- 0.1 microg/mL within 128 +/- 14 minutes. With increasing R116301 plasma concentrations, substance P-induced venodilation decreased significantly (P < .001), whereas placebo had no effect. Mean substance P-induced venodilation was markedly reduced to 8% +/- 7%.
Conclusion: This study confirms the presence of neurokinin-1 receptors in human veins and the effectiveness of the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist R116301 in human hand veins.