MICRODETERMINATION OF BLOOD LEVELS OF PROCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE AFTER INTRAVENOUS INJECTION

Abstract

The method described is a modification of the procedure used by Bratton and Marshall for the detn. of sulfanilamide in body fluids. 1 ml. of oxalated blood is laked with 15 ml. water. 4 ml. of 15% trichlor-acetic acid is then added and centrifuged or filtered after 10 mins. 1 ml. of 0.1% Na nitrite is added to 10 ml. of the filtrate. After 3 mins., 1 ml. of 0.5% ammonium sulfamate is added. After 2 mins., 1 ml. of 0.1% N-(l-naphthyl) ethylene diamine di-hydrochloride is added and allowed to stand 10 mins. The standard is prepared by processing 1 ml. of a 4 mg. % soln. in the above manner. The developing color is light purple and the concn. is detd. colorimetrically. Procaine hydrochloride added to oxalated blood could be recovered with satisfactory accuracy. Standing in the ice box for 24 hrs. did not result in appreciable loss of the quantity of procaine hydrochloride that could be recovered. In rabbits, 20 mg./kg. of procaine hydrochloride injected intravenously disappeared rapidly from the circulating blood (within 30 mins.) and the same was found to be true in man after smaller doses. Based on clinical experience, the intraven. injn. of 4 mg./kg. of procaine hydrochloride in 20 mins. produced optimal effect with least toxic reaction.