SULFANILAMIDE IN EDEMA FLUIDS

To the Editor:—  I have not noticed any reports of sulfanilamide concentration in human edema fluid of noninflammatory origin. A patient with intractable pitting edema of the lower extremities due to the nephrotic stage of chronic glomerulonephritis was treated by the insertion of Southey tubes into both legs. Sulfanilamide was given prophylactically to minimize the frequently resultant infection which has brought this often valuable procedure into disrepute. An initial dose of 4 Gm. followed by 1 Gm. every four hours was given, and twenty hours later samples of blood and edema fluid were taken simultaneously. The concentration of sulfanilamide in the two was the same, 4.2 mg. per hundred cubic centimeters.The diffusibility of the drug into edema fluid is thus even more marked than into the other body transudates. Incidentally, satisfactory drainage was obtained in this case without any inflammatory reaction. It is suggested that taking advantage of the