Antipyrene clearance in Indian villagers

1 Antipyrine clearance has been measured using saliva samples in 50 Maharashtrans from a village to the north of Bombay. 2 All subjects were very lean and were also anaemic probably as a result of hookworm infestation. 3 Antipyrine clearance was 36% faster than in White Londoners studied previously and more than twice as fast as in Asian immigrants living in London. 4 Clearance was 25% faster in men than in women but volume of distribution was also greater in men and mean half-lives did not differ significantly between the sexes. 5 There was a negative correlation between antipyrine clearance and haemoglobin concentration. 6 The study has identified geographic differences in antipyrine metabolism which could be clinically important. The role of anaemia merits further study.