PREVENTIVE EFFECT OF DAPSONE ON RENAL SCARRING FOLLOWING MANNOSE-SENSITIVE PILIATED BACTERIAL-INFECTION

Renal scarring has been thought to occur in the later stages of chroni c pyelonephritis. We previously reported that mannose-sensitive (MS) p iliated bacteria promoted renal scarring, which was prevented by antio xidants. The preventive effect of diaphenylsulfone (dapsone), which ha s a scavenging activity on active oxygen species, on renal scarring wa s examined. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were inoculated with clinical i solates of Serratia marcescens which had both MS and mannose-resistant pill or with recombinant strains which had MS pill on their surface; they were then administered 20 mg/kg of dapsone or not. Dapsone signif icantly suppressed scarring following infection of the kidney. The bac terial counts in the kidneys were not different in dapsone-treated and nontreated rats, We conclude that dapsone is effective in preventing renal scarring, and it is suggested that the clinical use of this drug may prevent renal scar formation following pyelonephritis.