Toxicity of Sodium Tetrathionate

Abstract

Summary

Thirty patients were chosen at random from the routine admissions to the Medical Service of the Medical College of Virginia Hospital Division and given 0.6 g sodium tetrathionate twice daily for 7 days, intravenously. The effect on kidney function was studied by following changes in blood non-protein nitrogen, Mosenthal concentration and phenolsulphonphthalein excretion values. The blood non-protein nitrogen and the Mosenthal concentration values indicated little disturbance in kidney function. However, these tests would not be expected to show much change unless there was a rather extensive impairment in renal function, The phenolsulphonphthalein excretion test was our most sensitive test of tubular function and in several instances showed evidence of diminished tubular capacity following sodium tetrathionate administration. On the basis of these clinical studies it would seem that sodium tetrathionate probably should not be used if there is any pre-existing renal disease.