RESUMO
PIP: Single dose kinetics of norethisterone (NET) and ethinyl estradiol (EE) were investigated in 10 female leprosy patients following the ingestion of a contraceptive pill (NET acetate 1 mg + 30 EE mcg). They had been under treatment with dapsone (100 mg daily) for 5-20 years. 6 young healthy women acted as controls. Serum concentrations up to 24 hours were measured by sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays, the intra- and interassay coefficients of variation being less than 13%. Peak levels and area under concentration time curve (AUC 0-24 hours) for NET were similar in leprosy patients and in healthy controls (peak level 11.3/ +or- 6.4 ng/ml vs. 10.5 +or- 4.7 ng/ml; AUC 89/+or- 38 ng/ml/hour vs. 67 +or- 9 ng/ml/hour). Peak levels and AUC (0-8 hours) for EE were higher in leprosy patients compared with controls (peak levels 184 +or- 66 pg/ml vs. 128 +or- 25 pg/ml; AUC 1041 +or- 319 pg/ml/hour vs. 681 +or- 123 pg/ml/hour). There was a tendency towards higher concentrations in leprosy patients though it was wignificant ony with respect to AUC for EE. Chronic treatment with dapsone does not appear to reduce the bioavailability of NET or EE. Oral contraceptives therefore may be effectively used in leprosy patients under dapsone therapy.^ieng