Adverse Reactions Almost all patients demonstrate the inter-related changes of a loss of 1 to 2g of hemoglobin, an increase in the reticulocytes (2 to 12%), a shortened red cell life span and a rise in methemoglobin. G6PD deficient patients have greater responses.

How does dapsone cause anemia?

Dapsone has long been known to cause hemolytic anemia, especially in people with G6PD deficiency; it causes a drop in hemoglobin levels up to 3 g/dL in up to 16% of the patients who receive a standard dose.

Does dapsone cause bone marrow suppression?

Agranulocytosis is an adverse effect of dapsone manifested as bone marrow suppression, which is caused by the formation of antibodies against neutrophil progenitor cells, decreasing the granulocyte formation.

What is the mechanism of action of dapsone?

As an antimicrobial agent, dapsone is bacteriostatic in action. It inhibits the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid through by competing with para-aminobenzoic acid for the active site of dihydropteroate synthetase [35, 41], thus resembling the action of sulphonamides.

Can dapsone lower WBC?

Tell all of your health care providers that you take dapsone (systemic). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. Very bad and sometimes deadly problems like low white blood cell counts, aplastic anemia, and other blood problems have happened with this drug.

Reticulocytes

45 related questions found

What are the most common side effects of dapsone?

The most common side effects of Dapsone include:

• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headache,
• dizziness or spinning sensation,
• blurred vision,
• ringing in your ears, and.
• sleep problems (insomnia)

What are the long term side effects of taking dapsone?

Rarely, prolonged use of dapsone over months or years at a high dose can lead to impaired function of nerves in the limbs, causing weakness of muscles in the hands and feet.

Does dapsone suppress the immune system?

Dapsone is used to prevent and treat a particular type of pneumonia known as PCP or PJP. Patients with a suppressed immune system are more susceptible to this infection. Dapsone is used when a person has a sulfa allergy or has experienced side effects to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.

Does dapsone inhibit protein synthesis?

Mechanism of action

As an antibacterial, dapsone inhibits bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid, via competition with para-aminobenzoate for the active site of dihydropteroate synthase, thereby inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis.

Is dapsone an anti-inflammatory?

Dapsone has clinical utility as an anti-inflammatory agent but the mechanism of this action remains unknown.

Can dapsone cause low oxygen levels?

Acquired methemoglobinemia from dapsone therapy results in an inability of hemoglobin to bind oxygen causing reduced oxygen delivery [3]. Prolonged reduction in oxygen delivery results in diffuse tissue hypoxia and cell death. Normal human red blood cells have methemoglobin levels of less than 2% [4].

Can dapsone cause neutropenia?

Neutropenia or agranulocytosis is a known idiosyncratic complication of dapsone, especially when used in dermatologic conditions such as dermatitis herpetiformis (incidence of 0.2%–0.4%).

Can dapsone cause liver damage?

Dapsone induced liver injury can result in acute liver failure, but most cases resolve rapidly with discontinuation of drug and full recovery is expected within 2 to 8 weeks. Severe cholestatic injury may be prolonged.

Does dapsone affect red blood cells?

Common Side effects of Dapsone include: Ruptured red blood cells (hemolysis) Blood disorder (methemoglobinemia)

Why is dapsone contraindicated in G6PD?

The FDA-approved label for dapsone gel (ACZONE) states that some subjects with G6PD deficiency using ACZONE developed laboratory changes suggestive of hemolysis. The label states that dapsone gel (ACZONE) should be avoided in patients with congenital methemoglobinemia, which is associated with variants in CYB5R3.

What are the effects of methemoglobinemia?

Methemoglobinemia, or methaemoglobinaemia, is a condition of elevated methemoglobin in the blood. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, poor muscle coordination, and blue-colored skin (cyanosis). Complications may include seizures and heart arrhythmias.

What are the indications of dapsone?

Dapsone is indicated for a variety of conditions, both dermatologic and non-dermatologic. The FDA-approved indications are leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis. The non-FDA-approved indications include a wide range of dermatoses and malaria and Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci prophylaxis and treatment.

Is dapsone a sulfa drug?

Dapsone is a bacteriostatic antibacterial sulfonamide drug used in the treatment of numerous systemic and dermatologic conditions.

Can dapsone cause kidney failure?

Renal involvement had not been previously described as a dapsone syndrome feature. Key Words: Leprosy, dapsone syndrome, acute renal failure. The leprosy drugs, rifampicin and dapsone, can cause significant, unpredictable, skin, liver and hematological toxicity.

How long can you use dapsone?

You may have to take it every day for as long as 3 years or more, or for life. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood.

How long does it take for dapsone to get out of your system?

The drug is also N-hydroxylated in the liver which product is responsible for the hemodynamic adverse effects. Its half life is long, 10-50 h and the time to reach plateau is at least 8 days[2]. The drug has been used for other skin disorders also.

What is dapsone 100mg used for?

This medication is used to treat a certain type of skin disorder (dermatitis herpetiformis). It is also used with other drugs to treat Hansen's disease. Dapsone belongs to a class of drugs known as sulfones. It works by decreasing swelling (inflammation) and stopping the growth of bacteria.

What is sulfone syndrome?

The sulfone syndrome consists of a constellation of symptoms secondary to a hypersensitivity reaction to dapsone (4, 4' diaminodiphenylsulfone). The clinical manifestations include fever, malaise, acute hepatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, and hemolytic anemia ^(1,2).

Can dapsone cause elevated liver enzymes?

Hepatic side effects have frequently included elevations in liver function tests, which may occur as part of the dapsone syndrome. Rare cases of hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice have been reported. Hyperbilirubinemia has also been reported.

Does dapsone cause neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a rare complication of dapsone therapy. This neuropathy appears primarily to be of the motor type, and recovery occurs on discontinuation of the drug therapy.