Effect of Dapsone on Red Cell Indices in Patients with Leprosy

Shin, Hang Kye; Ko, Young Hoon; Kim, Jong Pill

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hemolysis is one of the chief side-effects of dapsone. But the frequency and severity of hemolysis have not been fully elucidated in patients with leprosy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of dapsone on hematologic profile in patients with leprosy.
METHODS
We did a retrospective analysis of the effect of daily dapsone(100mg/day) in 26 newly-registered cases undergoing multi-drug therapy. Complete blood count(CBC) was performed on their initial visit and at intervals between one and six months. In 10 cases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G-6-PD) levels were determined and in 12 cases iron study was performed.
RESULTS
1. The average hemoglobin was found to fall by 2.9+/-1.4g/dl, from 13.2+/-1.5g/dl, to a nadir of 10.5+/-1.5g/dl(p<0.01). 2. In 13 cases in whom red cell profiles were available, there was a hemoglobin fall from 12.8+/-1.5g/dl to 10.8+/-1.7g/dl(p<0.01) and a hematocrit fall from 37.0+/-4.6% to 32.9+/-4.8%(p<0.05). There was a increase in mean corpuscular volume(MCV) from 90.7+/-2.9fl to 95.2+/-2.8fl(p<0.01). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC) changed from 31.3+/-2.3pg/cell to 31.2+/-1.4pg/cell(p<0.05) and from 34.6+/-2.2g/dl to 32.9+/-0.7g/dl(p<0.05), respectively. 3. Ten patients had G-6-PD measured and nine had normal levels. One with a low G-6-PD had a relatively dramatic hemoglobin fall. 4. Serum iron studies in 12 cases revealed reduced serum iron in 6 cases but normal or increased ferritin in all cases and decreased total iron binding capacity(TIBC) in 6 cases.
CONCLUSION
After dapsone treatment almost all patients had a fall in their hemoglobin concentration and an increase in MCV. Impaired iron utilization was a common finding and deficiency of G-6-PD may be a factor aggravating the hemolytic effect of dapsone in leprosy patients.