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Vol. 96. Núm. 2.
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Vol. 96. Núm. 2.
Páginas 224-227 (1 março 2021)
Tropical/Infectoparasitary Dermatology
Open Access
Adverse effects of polychemotherapy for leprosy in 13 years of follow-up at a university hospital
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Violeta Duarte Tortellya,
Autor para correspondência
violetatortelly@yahoo.com.br

Corresponding author:
, Egon Luiz Daxbacherb, Arles Martins Brotasa, Sueli Carneiroa,b
a Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
b Department of Dermatology, Instituto Endocrinologia Diabetes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Table 1. Characteristics of the 196 leprosy patients followed-up at the hospital.
Table 2. Characteristics of the 56 patients who had adverse effects.
Table 3. Adverse effects, respective drugs, and suspension.
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Abstract

Leprosy is one of the neglected diseases in the world and Brazil is the second country with more cases. A retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of 196 leprosy patients diagnosed during the course of 13 years at a university hospital. The aim was to describe the adverse effects of polychemotherapy, as well the most prevalent and most vulnerable populations. In the study, dapsone was the most implicated drug, especially in women, and the risk increased with age. The authors conclude that with this patient profile, greater vigilance should be taken regarding possible adverse effects, especially anemia.

Keywords:
Clofazimine
Dapsone
Leprosy
Rifampicin
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Introduction

The multidrug therapy (MDT) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) has dramatically changed the natural history of leprosy. It reduced the prevalence and development of antimicrobial resistance.1 A cohort of 371 leprosy patients was followed-up for 13 years to identify the sociodemographic profile and the most frequent adverse effects of MDT.

Methods

In a retrospective study from 2002 to 2014, 371 leprosy patients were evaluated and the socio-demographic profile and adverse effects (AE) of the standard MDT were evaluated. Paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) patients who underwent less than four and nine supervised doses, respectively, were excluded; 196 patients remained.

Results

Of the 196 patients, 97 were males and 99 females; 41.32% were treated with MDT-PB, 53.05% with MDT-MB, and 5.61% with an alternative regimen (Table 1). A total of 61 adverse effects were reported in 56 patients, of whom 64.28% (36) were women. Three patients were under 15 years of age; 12 were over 70 years; and 41 (73.21%), between 16 and 69 years. Hemolytic anemia was the most frequent adverse reaction (73.20%), whether acute (30.35%) or chronic (42.85%); 83.3% of these cases were observed in women, mainly aged 45 years or over (63.3%). The chance of a patient with anemia being female was 2.14 times greater (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.14–4.12). Sulfonic syndrome occurred in two patients, while methemoglobinemia was observed in one (Table 2). Gastrointestinal alterations such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or epigastric pain were observed in nearly one-fifth of the patients, mostly (72.2%) due to DDS. Two patients presented photosensitivity. The chance of an individual having an AE increased with each year of age (OR = 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04). Nonetheless, no association was observed between type of AE and age.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the 196 leprosy patients followed-up at the hospital.

Characteristics  Number  Percentage (%) 
Gender     
Male  97  49.0 
Female  99  51.0 
Ethnicity     
White  84  42.9 
Black  42  21.4 
Asian  0.5 
Mixed-race  64  32.7 
Native Brazilian 
Unknown  2.5 
Age (years)     
11 – 20  24  18.05 
21 – 30  33  24.81 
31 – 40  34  25.57 
41 – 50  13  9.77 
51 – 60  11  8.27 
61 – 70  3.76 
> 70  13  9.77 
Clinical presentation     
Undetermined  17  8.67 
Tuberculoid  61  31.12 
Borderline  55  28.06 
Lepromatous  60  30.61 
Not classified  1.51 
Educational status     
Illiterate  4.6 
Elementary school  90  45.9 
Incomplete high school  30  15.3 
Complete high school  28  14.3 
Incomplete university or college education  2.6 
Complete university or college education  12  6.1 
Unknown  19  9.7 
Not applicable  1.5 
Bacilloscopy     
Positive  80  40.8 
Negative  94  48.0 
Not performed  19  9.7 
Unknown  1.5 
Initial treatment     
MDT-PB  81  41.32 
MDT-MB  104  53.06 
Alternative  11  0.51 
TOTAL  196  100% 

MDT-PB, paucibacillary multidrug therapy; MDT-MB, multibacillary multidrug therapy.

Table 2.

Characteristics of the 56 patients who had adverse effects.

Characteristics  Number  (%) 
Gender     
Male  20  35.71 
Female  36  64.29 
Ethnicity     
White  27  48.21 
Black  14.29 
Asian  1.79 
Mixed-race  18  32.14 
Native Brazilian 
Unknown  3.57 
Age     
00 -15  5.36 
16 – 45  22  39.28 
46 – 69  19  33.93 
≥ 70  12  21.43 
Clinical presentation     
Indeterminate  10.71 
Tuberculoid  15  26.79 
Borderline  21  37.50 
Lepromatous  13  23.21 
Not classified  1.79 
Education     
Illiterate  1.79 
Incomplete fourth grade  12  21.43 
Complete fourth grade  5.36 
Incomplete elementary school  8.93 
Complete elementary school  1.79 
Incomplete high school  10  17.85 
Complete high school  10  17.85 
Incomplete university or college education  1.79 
Complete university or college education  10.71 
Unknown  8.93 
Not applicable  3.57 
Bacilloscopy     
Positive  20  35.71 
Negative  30  53.58 
Not performed  10.71 
Adverse effect dose     
First  19  33.93 
Second  16.07 
Third  16.07 
Fourth  10.71 
Fifth or greater  13  23.21 
Initial treatment     
MDT-PB  21  37.50 
MDT-MB  35  62.50 
TOTAL  56  100 

MDT-PB, paucibacillary multidrug therapy; MDT-MB, multibacillary multidrug therapy.

Most AEs occurred in the first few supervised doses, 33.92% in the first and 76.78% until the fourth (Table 2). DDS was the most implicated drug; it accounted for 96.7% of AE (59/61), and was replaced in almost half of the cases (49.15%). RFP alone represented 3.27% of the AEs and was suspended in only one patient, due to refractory headache. Mild thrombocytopenia occurred in three patients using a combination of RFP and DDS. Some patients presented more than one AE (Table 3).

Table 3.

Adverse effects, respective drugs, and suspension.

Adverse effect due to dapsone  Dapsone suspension 
Chronic hemolytic anemia  24  11 
Acute hemolytic anemia  17  12 
Photosensitivity/photodermatitis 
Methemoglobinemia 
Gastrointestinal manifestation 
Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome 
Adverse effect due to rifampicin  n  Rifampicin suspension 
Gastrointestinal manifestation 
Headache 
Adverse effect due to clofazimine and dapsone  n  Dapsone or clofazimine suspension 
Gastrointestinal manifestation 
Adverse effect due to rifampicin and dapsone  n  Dapsone or rifampicin suspension 
Thrombocytopenia 
Total adverse effects  61  30 
Discussion

In the cohort of 196 individuals studied, most MB treatments were in male patients. Nobre et al. reported twice as much MB cases in men (OR = 2.36; 95% CI 2.33–2.38).2 Half of the patients were between 20 and 40 years of age. Literature data show that AE can occur in up to half of the patients (45%) in MDT; in the present study, it occurred in less than 30%.3,4,5 Although more than a quarter (n = 56) of the patients experienced an AE, the drug was replaced in 30 of the 185 cases that started the standard regimen. More than two-thirds of AEs occurred in the first four months of treatment and DDS was the medication most involved, according to reports in the literature.5 Hematological AE occurred in almost three quarters of the patients and have been related to the individual capacity for sulfamine (DDS) acetylation and hydroxylation. Individuals with hemoglobinopathies, G6PD deficiency, and those receiving oxidative medications may be at increased risk for hemolytic anemia.6 Dapsone-related photoallergy has led to the discontinuation of the drug in two cases. The occurrence of AE in women was twice as high, corroborating Dupnik's findings of the association of female gender with an increased risk of drug reaction.7 G6PD genes are on the X chromosome and some mutations lead women with partial disabilities to develop symptoms.8 In the present study, it was observed that women over 45 years of age had a higher risk of AE, contrary to the findings by Dupnik, who observed it in younger women.7 The chance of an individual having AE increases with each year of age for both sexes (OR = 1.02; 95% CI 1.00–1.04). Slower metabolization in older patients would justify this finding.9 Goulart et al. also found an increased risk of hematological effects in older patients.3 Sulfonic syndrome, although severe, is uncommon; it was observed in 1.53%, in agreement with the literature.3,5,10 Gastrointestinal complaints improved with recommendations for concomitant food intake and/or use of antiemetics, not requiring drug suspension.

Conclusions

DDS was responsible for the largest number of AE cases, mainly in the first trimester. Anemia was the most frequent, mainly in women. The risk of AE increases with each year of age. These findings reinforce the need for greater vigilance at the beginning of treatment, in women, and in older patients.

Financial support

None declared.

Authors’ contributions

Violeta Duarte Tortelly: Approval of the final version of the manuscript; design and planning of the study; drafting and editing of the manuscript; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; effective participation in research orientation; intellectual participation in propaedeutic and/or therapeutic conduct of studied cases; critical review of the literature; critical review of the manuscript.

Egon Luiz Daxbacher: Approval of the final version of the manuscript; design and planning of the study; effective participation in research orientation; critical review of the literature.

Arles Martins Brotas: Approval of the final version of the manuscript; critical review of the literature; critical review of the manuscript.

Sueli Carneiro: Approval of the final version of the manuscript; design and planning of the study; drafting and editing of the manuscript; critical review of the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

References
[1]
World Health Organization.
Report of the Global Programme Managers’ Meeting on Leprosy Control Strategy.
WHO, (2009),
[2]
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Multibacillary leprosy by population groups in Brazil: Lessons from an observational study.
[3]
M.I. Goulart, G.L. Arbex, M.H. Carneiro, M.S.G.R. Rodrigues.
Adverse effects of multidrug therapy in leprosy patients: a five-year survey at a Health Center of the Federal University of Uberlândia.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop., 35 (2002), pp. 453-460
[4]
P.D. Deps, S. Nasser, P. Guerra, M. Simon, R.D.C. Birshner, L.C. Rodrigues.
Adverse effects from Multi-drug therapy in leprosy: a Brazilian study.
Lepr Rev., (2007), pp. 216-222
[5]
H. Singh, B. Nel, V. Dey, P. Tiwari, N. Dulhani.
Adverse effects of multi-drug therapy in leprosy, a two years’ experience (2006-2008) in tertiary health care centre in the tribal region of Chhattisgarh State (Bastar, Jagdalpur).
Lepr Rev., 82 (2011), pp. 17-24
[6]
K. Mayer, A.B. Ley.
Hemolysis of red cells due to sulfone.
Ann Intern Med., 72 (1970), pp. 711-714
[7]
K.M. Dupnik, F.J.R. Cardoso, A.L.B.B. de Macêdo, I.L.C. de Sousa, R.C.B. Leite, S.M.B. Jerônumo, et al.
Intolerance to Leprosy Multi-Drug Therapy: More Common in Women?.
Lepr Rev, 3 (2013), pp. 209-218
[8]
N. Tharp.
Adverse drug reactions in women’s health care.
J Midwifery Womens Health., 3 (2011), pp. 205-213
[9]
T. Oommen.
Multidrug therapy in geriatric patients.
Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis., 68 (2000), pp. 178-179
[10]
P.N. Rao, T.S.S. Lakshmi.
Increase in the incidence of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome – an appraisal..
Lepr Rev, 72 (2001), pp. 57-62

How to cite this article: Tortelly VD, Daxbacher EL, Brotas AM, Carneiro S. Adverse effects of polychemotherapy for leprosy in 13 years of follow-up at a university hospital. An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96:224–7.

Study conducted at Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Copyright © 2021. Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia
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