Clinical applications and methemoglobinemia induced by dapsone

Abstract

Dapsone is a synthetic sulfone that is used as an antibiotic in humans and animals to prevent and treat diseases including leprosy, tuberculosis, malaria, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and Toxoplasma gondii encephalitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients as well as in anti-inflammatory conditions, such as dermatitis herpetiformis. However, this drug is also associated with several adverse effects, including dose-related hemolysis, methemoglobinemia, psychosis, peripheral neuropathy, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, hypersensitivity syndrome, sulfone syndrome, and others. Of these effects, methemoglobinemia is the most common side effect of dapsone, which leads to functional anemia and cellular hypoxia with symptoms of cyanosis, headache, fatigue, tachycardia, weakness, and dizziness. Thus, this review summarizes relevant information on the structure, mechanism of action, clinical indication, and adverse reactions of dapsone.