[Genetic polymorphism of isoniazid acetylation in Chilean patients with tuberculosis]

We studied genetic polymorphism of isoniazid acetylation in 47 tuberculous patients treated with 4 drugs between Aug 1987 and Dec 1988. Inactivation of isoniazid was estimated from urine samples after administration of the drug (10 mg/kg). There were 18 slow and 29 fast acetylators. The frequency of the slow mutant gene was estimated at 0.612, which is intermediate between values found in american natives (0.46) and western europeans (0.73). No associations of the presence of slow gene with sex, ABO group, ancestors, socioeconomic level, undernutrition, alcoholism or tobacco consumption were found.