Pyrazinamide deamidase activity in tuberculous disease.

To investigate whether pyrazinamide deamidase activity is suppressed in tuberculosis, serial serum concentrations of pyrazinamide, following 40 mg of pyrazinamide per kg, were determined in 10 patients with sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis and in 10 control subjects without disease. The concentrations and the half-lives of pyrazinamide were similar in the 2 groups, suggesting no suppression of the deamidase activity in tuberculous patients.