INFLUENCE OF ACETYLATOR PHENOTYPE ON THE HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH DAPSONE IN LEPROSY PATIENTS

Methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia were the principal side-eff ects observed in 30 leprosy patients undergoing long-term treatment wi th dapsone as a single drug or As part of multidrug therapy. Hepatic, pancreatic and renal evaluations showed no relevant clinical changes. Since N-acetylation is a major metabolic pathway for dapsone, slow ace tylation phenotype may be a risk factor for the development of these r eactions. To confirm this hypothesis we correlated acetylator phenotyp e and the haematological and biochemical effects induced by dapsone. N o excess proportion of slow acetylators was found. We conclude that sl ow acetylators are not at greater risk of developing haematological si de-effects of dapsone than fast acetylators.