Chemical Analysis of Sulfones Used for the Treatment of Malaria.
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine if there was a causal relationship between the occasional incidence of agranulocytosis in subjects receiving dapsone (DDS) prophylactically overseas and the contents of DDS and sulfone contaminants in the DDS tablets used. The levels of these compounds in samples of various lots of DDS returned from overseas were compared with the levels in samples of the same lots that had been stored in U.S. depots. Spectrophotometric, thin-layer chromatographic and high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedures were used to analyze DDS tablets and DDS reference standards for DDS and sulfone contaminants. U.S.P. standard methods were also employed to analyze selected lots of DDS tablets. Eight contaminants were found in DDS tablets, five of which were identified. No striking or consistent qualitative or quantitative differences in the contents of DDS or any sulfone contaminant were noted between samples of 12 lots of DDS tablets from overseas or from U.S. sites. Therefore, these studies have not disclosed the presence of sulfone contaminants unique to DDS tablets returned from overseas and suggest that the occurrence of agranulocytosis was not causally related to any of the components of the DDS tablets measured thus far.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA015024
Entities
People
- John H. Peters
Organizations
- SRI International