A Ventilatory Effect of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition in Man

Abstract

Summary

Five normal males were given 25 mg/kg of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide both orally and intravenously in separate experiments. The oral dose caused a significant increase in ratio of ventilation to CO₂ output, but only after a delay of approximately 2 hours after ingestion. The intravenous dose caused a greater increase in ratio of ventilation to CO₂ output which was evident as soon as infusion of drug was completed. It was concluded that carbonic anhydrase inhibition in man did produce a ventilatory effect which had not been demonstrated previously when the inhibitor was given orally.

The author wishes to thank Dr. Cloid D. Green for administering the drug intravenously and for exercising medical supervision of experiments. Excellent technical assistance of Mr. R. J. Ball is also gratefully acknowledged.