RELATIVE TOXICITY OF SULFAMERAZINE AND SULFADIAZINE

Sulfamerazine (monomethylsulfadiazine) was synthesized by Roblin and his co-workers1and has been used by several investigators in the treatment of a variety of clinical infections.2Since its therapeutic activity is apparently comparable to that of sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine, it is important to determine whether it possesses any advantage over those drugs with regard to toxic reactions. Evidence is conclusive3that sulfadiazine is less toxic than sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine, and for this reason it is recommended more frequently for systemic use than any other sulfonamide at the present time. In order to evaluate the toxicity of the more recently introduced sulfamerazine, we have at this time reviewed the records on all the patients observed by us to whom sulfamerazine4or sulfadiazine4was administered. These patients were in the wards of the Gallinger Municipal Hospital5or in the private practice of one of us. Altogether