title: Methemoglobinemia and dapsone levels in patients with leprosy.
abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the methemoglobinemia and correlate with dapsone levels in multibacillary leprosy patients under leprosy multi-drug therapy. Thirty patients with laboratory and clinical diagnosis of multibacillary leprosy were enrolled. Dapsone was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and methemoglobinemia by spectrophotometry. The mean dapsone concentrations in male was 1.42 g/mL and in female was 2.42 g/mL. The mean methemoglobin levels in male was 3.09 µg/mL; 191%, and in female was 2.84 ± 1.67%. No correlations were seen between dapsone levels and methemoglobin in male and female patients. Our results demonstrated that the dosage of dapsone in leprosy treatment does not promote a significant methemoglobinemia.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy School, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil. jvieira@ufpa.br
authors.forename: Jose Luiz Fernandes
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Juan Gonzalo Bardarez
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Riveira
authors.forename: Ana de Nazaré Silva
authors.initials: Ade N
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Jorge Pereira da
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Claudio Guedes
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Salgado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D056006:Leprosy, Multibacillary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D002991:Clofazimine; D012293:Rifampin