DAPSONE-INDUCED APLASTIC-ANEMIA IN A WOMAN WITH BULLOUS SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Aplastic anemia developed in a black woman who was receiving dapsone t herapy for bullous systemic lupus erythematosus. Aplastic anemia is an uncommon adverse hematologic effect in patients treated with dapsone, the pathogenesis of which remains unknown. To our knowledge, dapsone- induced aplastic anemia has been previously reported in only four pati ents; the characteristics of their cases are described herein. Conserv ative monitoring of hematologic variables may alert clinicians to the early stages of this rare drug reaction.