Antipyrine clearance in pneumonia.

Antipyrine clearance was estimated by a one-sample technique in 14 patients with acute fever and clinical pneumonia. Antipyrine clearance during the acute illness was 31.4 +/- 7.6 ml/min (X +/- SD). Fourteen and 28 days later during convalescence, clearance values were higher (47.8 +/- 18.9 and 49.2 +/- 15.0 ml/min, respectively). We conclude that microsomal hepatic drug metabolism in adults is impaired during pneumonia.