Metabolism of sulphadiazine in malnutrition.

1. The kinetics of sulphadiazine were studied in well-nourished and under-nourished subjects. 2. The metabolic clearance rate of a single dose of sulphadiazine given either orally or intravenously was faster in under-nourished subjects. 3. The plasma protein binding of the drug was found to be reduced in under-nourished subjects. 4. Blood concentrations (48 h and 72 h) of sulphadiazine tended to be low in the under-nourished as compared with well-nourished subjects after administration of multiple doses of the drug. 5. It is concluded that a revision in the dosage schedule may not be necessary in the treatment of under-nourished subjects with sulphadiazine, since the blood concentrations were higher than the reporte d minimum to combat infection.