title: Skin pigmentation from clofazimine therapy in leprosy patients: a reappraisal.
abstract: Skin biopsy specimens from two lepromatous leprosy patients with dark brown pigmentation who were receiving long-term clofazimine therapy were studied. Ceroid-lipofuscin pigment was demonstrated inside macrophages that contained numerous phagolysosomes. These contained lipids and clofazimine that appeared as electron-lucent vacuoles and a lipofuscin pigment that was electron dense, granular, and lamellated. Although the presence of the drug in tissues contributed to the skin pigmentation, the main cause was a drug-induced, reversible ceroid lipofuscinosis.
authors: Pathology Research Department, Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, LA 70721.
authors: C K
authors: CK
authors: Job
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Yoder
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Jacobson
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Hastings
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D002991:Clofazimine