Factors in hydrazine formation from isoniazid by paediatric and adult tuberculosis patients.

An HPLC method is described for measurement of plasma hydrazine (Hz) concentrations (CHz) at the same time as isoniazid (INH) levels (CINH). Study has been made of CHz during 2-5 after dose in healthy adults (A, n = 34), in adult pulmonary TB patients (B, n = 18) and in paediatric tuberculous meningitis patients (C, n = 25). Although the population has about equal proportions of 'slow' (52%) and 'fast' acetylators, in none of the groups could a correlation be shown between CHz levels or rates of Hz accumulation and any measure of acetylator type. Consequently Hz must be derived both from INH and from its metabolites during the first hours post-dose. For group A and ca. 70% of groups B and C a constant and maximal fraction of dose (ca. 0.6% for adults and 0.4% for paediatric patients) appeared as Hz at 4-5 h. For group B patients small pre-dose concentrations increased with duration of treatment. Four patients in group B showed the highest levels of CHz and rates of Hz accumulation some three times greater than the rest; all four had been identified as alcoholics and one showed evidence of hepatotoxicity at CHz (5 h) = 1.3% of dose. Amongst group C (9/25) episodes of high CHz greater than 0.5% of dose occurred during the first weeks of treatment and one developed CHz ca. 100 ng/ml = 1.3% of dose coincidentally with indications of hepatic damage.