A method for the determination of tetraethylthiuram disulphide (antabus, abstinyl) and diethyldithiocarbamate in blood and urine. some studies on the metabolism of tetraethylthiuram disulphide

Abstract

Tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TTD) can be detd. in blood and plasma using the colorimetric method of Domar et al. Its reduced form, the diethyldithiocarbamate ion (DDC), however, cannot be detd. in blood and plasma with this method, but well after the digestion of the proteins with pancreatin or after the addition of a surface-active agent, such as Tween 20, to the soln. DDC is found in the blood corpuscles but not in the plasma. DDC can be found in amts. of about 10-20 mg./100 ml. of blood after the ingestion of TTD whereas only minute amts. of TTD were traced. DDC is found in the alkaline urine of man and rabbits, but is rapidly destroyed in acid urine.