title: Influence of acetylator phenotype on the haematological and biochemical effects associated with dapsone in leprosy patients.
abstract: Methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia were the principal side-effects observed in 30 leprosy patients undergoing long-term treatment with dapsone as a single drug or as part of multidrug therapy. Hepatic, pancreatic and renal evaluations showed no relevant clinical changes. Since N-acetylation is a major metabolic pathway for dapsone, slow acetylation phenotype may be a risk factor for the development of these reactions. To confirm this hypothesis we correlated acetylator phenotype and the haematological and biochemical effects induced by dapsone. No excess proportion of slow acetylators was found. We conclude that slow acetylators are not at greater risk of developing haematological side-effects of dapsone than fast acetylators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Food Sciences Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melchior
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003622:Dapsone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D002991:Clofazimine; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D012293:Rifampin