Skin pigmentation from clofazimine therapy in leprosy patients: a reappraisal.
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.
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Pathology Research Department, Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, LA 70721.
Yoder
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Jacobson
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Hastings
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RC
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
D002991:Clofazimine