Abstract
Summary
The tears of 14 patients receiving sulfathiazole were quantitatively analyzed. Sulfathiazole was found in all the cases. The concentrations varied from 0.1 mg % to 0.98 mg %.
Four patients suffering from sulfathiazole conjunctivitis showed a tear concentration of 0.6 mg %, or more. On the other hand, 6 of 10 patients without conjunctivitis had a tear concentration of 0.56 mg %.
A single case of conjunctivitis was observed in which the eye inflammation disappeared without sequelae despite the uninterrupted administration of sulfathiazole.
Among 31 consecutive patients receiving sulfathiazole, 5 developed conjunctivitis. In 4 of these the conjunctivitis appeared during a second or a subsequent course of therapy.
Conclusions. 1. The amount of sulfathiazole secreted in the tears is not proportional to the blood sulfathiazole concentration.
2. The concentration of sulfathiazole in the tears does not of itself appear to be the cause of the conjunctivitis.
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