Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of d-Tubocurarine in Man

Abstract

Using radioimmunoassay, d-tubocurarine (dTc) was found in the CSF of man after i.v. injection. When dTc was administered in a single dose (0.3 mg/kg) to 9 patients, small quantities, 3.5 .+-. .26 ng/ml (mean .+-. SE), appeared in the lumbar CSF within 5 min. The concentration of dTc in the CSF remained constant for the next 25 min, but then began to increase with time to 9.3 .+-. 4.4 ng/ml 30 min after injection, 14.5 .+-. 4.4 ng/ml at 1 h, and 24.9 .+-. 6.5 ng/ml at 6 h. In another group of 6 patients, 3 doses of dTc (0.3 mg/kg) were given at 90-min intervals. Concentration of dTc in the CSF increased after each injection. The quantities of dTc found in the CSF are unlikely to produce any pharmacologic or adverse effect (e.g., convulsion) in man.