Incidence and patterns of hemolytic anemia in acute dapsone overdose.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic anemia is one of the complications related to the chronic consumption of dapsone. However, in acute dapsone overdose, there have been few case reports regarding hemolytic anemia. Herein, we reported the prevalence and patterns of hemolytic anemia in acute dapsone overdose, and compared clinical features including mortality in the non-hemolytic anemia and the hemolytic anemia groups. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 43 consecutive acute dapsone overdose cases that were diagnosed and treated at the emergency department of the Wonju Severance Christian Hospital between January 2006 and January 2014. RESULTS: There were 13 male patients (30.2%) and the ages of all patients ranged from 18 to 93 years with a median of 67 years. The ingested dose varied from a minimum of two 100-mg tablet to a maximum of twenty five 100-mg tablets. All patients had methemoglobinemia irrespective of the presence of hemolytic anemia. Among 43 patients, 30 patients (69.8%) were shown to have hemolytic anemia and hemolytic anemia developed the day after admission and persisted for more than 6 days after admission. Even though mortality rate was not significantly higher in the hemolytic anemia group, the hemolytic anemia group had significantly longer total admission and intensive care unit admission stays than the non-hemolytic group. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of the patients with acute dapsone overdose is associated with occurrence of hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia may be developed the day after admission and persisted for more than 6 days after admission. Therefore, monitoring of serum hemoglobin level is necessary.

Dapsone intoxication: clinical course and characteristics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dapsone is used as an antibiotic for leprosy and for dermatological disorders and may cause methemoglobinemia. The aims of this study are to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dapsone ingestion to identify risk factors associated with mortality. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult ED patients with methemoglobinemia because of dapsone intoxication admitted to a tertiary care hospital from September 2003 to December 2008. Data collected included demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, as well as survival to discharge. Characteristics of young (less than or equal to 55 years) and older (greater than age 55) patients were compared. The main outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: There were 46 patients included in the study. The minimum intoxication dose was two 100 mg tablets and the maximum was 100 tablets. Changes in mental status were more common in the older patients. Methemoglobin levels were slightly higher in the younger patients, but both groups were treated with similar doses of methylene blue. Shock and death were more common in the older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Late presentation to medical care and an altered mental status at the time of presentation were predictive of death after dapsone intoxication. Methemoglobin levels tended to be higher in those who died.