Sulfadimidine acetylation in Norwegians. Comparison of sulfadimidine metabolism in Lapps, North Norwegians and South Norwegians.

. The acetylation of sulfadimidine was studied in 152 healthy volunteers (29 Lapps, 73 Norwegians and 50 South Norwegians) by means of fraction acetylated sulfadimidine and drug half-life. The distribution of rapid acetylators was different among Lapps (72%) and South Norwegians (44%) (p<0.01). The North Norwegians resembled the South Norwegians, but some regional approach to the Lappish pattern was found. Great interindividual differences in the half-lives were demonstrated. The mean half-life (±S.E.M.) was 384±17 min in slow acetylators and 148±8 min in rapid acetylators. Among participants with half-lives of sulfadimidine less than 420 min an intraindividual correlation with fraction acetylated sulfadimidine was found. The distribution of fraction acetylated sulfadimidine was bimodal while the distribution of halflives was suggested to be trimodal.