2. introduction
Leprosy is a rare disease in US but a small number
of cases reported each year. Worldwide it is a
much larger problem.
Approximately, 70% of all cases in world are
located in india.
3. Treatment
Bacilli from skin lesion or nasal discharge of
infected patients enter susceptible individuals via
abraded skin or the respiratory tract.
The WHO recommends the triple-drug regimen of
Dapsone, Clofazimine, and Rifampin for 6 to 24
months.
4. Drugs used in leprosy
Dapsone
Inhibits folate synthesis via dihydropteroate
synthetase inhibition.
Well absorbed orally,widely distributed .
Half-life 1-2 days,tends to be retained in
skin,muscle,liver and kidney.
Excreted into bile and reabsorbed in the intestine.
Excreted in urine as acetylated.
It is well tolerated.
5. Clinical uses
Tuberculoid leprosy. (Tuberculoid leprosy is a skin
condition characterized by solitary skin lesions that are
asymmetrically distributed.)
Lepromatous leprosy (Lepromatous leprosy is a skin
condition consisting of pale macules) in combination with
rifampin & clofazimine.
To prevent & treat Pneumocystis pneumonia in
AIDS caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (
Pneumocystis carinii).
6. Adverse effects
Haemolytic anaemia
Methemoglobinemia
Gastrointestinal intolerance
Fever,pruritus,rashes.
Erythema nodosum leprosum (is an inflammatory condition
characterised by inflammation of the fat cells under the skin, resulting in tender
red nodules or lumps that are usually seen on both shins.)
7. Clofazimine
It is a phenazine dye.
Antiinflammatory effect.
Absorption from the gut is variable.
Given orally , once daily.
Excreted mainly in feces.
Stored mainly in reticuloendothelial tissues and skin.
Half-life 2 months.
Delayed onset of action (6 weeks).
8. Mechanism of Action
It binds to DNA and prevent it from serving as
template for future DNA replication.
Its redox properties may lead to generation of
cytotoxic oxygen radical that are also toxic to
bacteria.
It is bactericidal drug.
9. Clinical uses
Multidrug resistance TB.
Lepromatous leprosy
Tuberculoid leprosy in :
patients intolerant to sulfones
dapsone-resistant bacilli.
Chronic skin ulcers caused by M.ulcerans.
10. Adverse effects
Skin discoloration ranging from red-brown to black.
Gastrointestinal intolerance.
Red colour urine.
Eosinophilic enteritis
