Abstract
Acetylation of dapsone (DDS) and sulfamethazine (SMZ), and plasma clearance of DDS were studied in Malaysian Chinese with lepromatous leprosy including 40 DDS-resistant and 44 non-resistant patients. Neither a patient's acetylation characteristics (DDS or SMZ), nor his plasma clearance rate, appeared to have predisposed him to the development of DDS resistance. A potentially important drug interaction between rifampin and DDS was discovered. After ingestion of rifampin for a minimum of 2 weeks, the plasma clearance of DDS was increased and the relative amount of the acetylated DDS was decreased. The implications of these results for the treatment of lepromatous leprosy are discussed.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have