IN-VIVO NITROSATION OF METAMIZOLE IN MAN

Monitoring the excretion of the non-carcinogenic nitroso-methylaminoan-tipyrine (NMAA) after peroral applications of the analgesic drug metamizole is a useful procedure for evaluating endogenous nitrosation, also in man. The outstanding nitrosatibility of this drug led to high amounts of excreted NMAA, easily detected without derivatisation by HPLC. By nitrate ingestion considered as normal dietary intake the nitrosation is scarcely modified by ascorbic acid, sodium-bicarbonate or sodium-bicarbonate plus metronidazole. These results are an other indication of a third, cell-mediated path of endogeneous nitrosation in man.