title: [Vitamin E as protective agent against hemolysis in leprosy patients under dapsone treatment].
abstract: Dapsone (4,4'diaminodiphenyl-sulphone) commonly used in the treatment of patients who suffer from leprosy, is a strongly oxidative drug, producing damage to the red cell membrane. This study investigated whether Vitamin E would have a protective effect on the red cell membrane from oxidant damage caused by Dapsone in patients with leprosy. We have studied 16 patients for 4 months, divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 7) dapsone (DDS): 100 mg/day; Group 2 (n = 9) dapsone: 100 mg/day in addition with Vitamin E: 800 U/day. We did not include patients with low levels of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) because of their sensibility to this drug. At the beginning of the treatment we determined the level of G-6-PD. All patients showed a normocytic normochromic anemia with a decrease in Haptoglobine levels (below 5 mg/dl). Statistical analyses showed that reticulocyte counts did not present significant differences between groups all through evolution. As for methemoglobin (Hi) we observed in Group 1 an increase between the first and the fourth month, which was not seen in group 2. Statistical analyses of the results suggest that oral Vitamin E confers partial protective effect and does not correct the hemolysis parameters produced by Dapsone treatment except for Hi levels which were more sensitive to the oxidant damage.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lardo
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Artaza
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Carbia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nazer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valdez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003622:Dapsone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D003622:Dapsone
vernacular_title: Vitamina E como agente protector de hemólisis en pacientes de lepra tratados con dapsona.