Polymorphic acetylation of procaine amide in healthy subjects.

The acetylation of procaine amide has been studied by means of gas liquid chromatography in 33 healthy human volunteers. The acetylator phenotype was determined by measuring unchanged and acetylated sulphapyridine in urine. Slow acetylators of sulphapyridine excreted significantly less procaine amide in acetylated from in the urine than rapid acetylators (9 plus or minus 1% against 19 plus or minus 4%). Hence, it is suggested that the acetylation of procaine amide is subject to the same genetic polymorphism as that of isoniazid and some sulfonamides.