1. 1-methyl xanthine (1-MX) is metabolized exclusively to 1-methyl uric acid (1-MU) by the enzyme xanthine oxidase. 2. The ratio of 1-MU to 1-MX in the urine, following a dose of 50 mg of 1-MX infused intravenously over 20 min, was used to measure the inhibition of xanthine oxidase induced by different doses of allopurinol. 3. Normal volunteers (n = 8) were given allopurinol 50, 100, 300 and 600 mg daily for 1 week each, in random order and 1 week separated each treatment. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase was assessed twice, on the last 2 days of each treatment week. 4. Steady-state oxipurinol concentrations increased linearly with increasing dose of allopurinol. 5. There was a hyperbolic relationship between the 1-MU/1-MX ratio and plasma oxipurinol concentrations, with an initial steep decline in the ratio which plateaued when plasma oxipurinol was around 4-6 mg l-1. This reduction in the ratio was quickly reversible upon cessation of allopurinol. 6. The 50% and 90% effective inhibitory oxipurinol concentrations, in relation to the 1-MU-/1-MX ratio were 1.4 +/- 0.46 and 4.08 +/- 2.03 mg l-1 respectively. 7. The concentration of oxipurinol required for almost complete inhibition of the enzyme was substantially less than those often observed in clinical practice.