OBSERVATIONS ON THE ABSORPTION, DISTRIBUTION AND EXCRETION OF SULPHAPYRIDINE, DAGENAN OR M. & B. 693 1

Abstract

90 cases treated by sulphapyridine were closely followed with respect to the dosage, fluid intake, and urinary excretion. Daily estimations of the total and the free and conjugated fractions of the drug in the blood and urine were made during the period of chemotherapy and for at least 4 days afterward. The great variation in the amt. of drug absorbed in cases on oral dosage and the relatively small quantities recoverable in the urine were noted and compared with the findings in cases treated by inj. alone. Even in the latter much of the drug was not excreted in the urine. Particular importance was placed on the occurrence during chemotherapy of acute renal insufficiency producing oliguria and anuria, a rise in the N.P.N. and sudden and very large accumulations of the conjugated fraction in the blood. It was emphasized that oliguria should be detected early and at once corrected by increasing the fluid intake; and that estimation of the conc. of the free moiety in the blood fell short of the desiderata for safe chemotherapy. Assays of post mortem material indicated inequalities in the distr. of the drug to the tissues, organs, and cerebrospinal fluid.