01684nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260004300042653001600085653003700101653002300138653002200161653001300183653001700196100001300213700001500226700001700241700001600258700001700274700001500291700001900306700001600325700001400341700001400355700001500369245013400384856009800518300001000616520070700626022002501333       2026                            d  c08/2026bOxford University Press (OUP)10aClofazimine10aclofazimine-induced pigmentation10askin discoloration10aleprosy treatment10aBarriers10aTherapeutics1 aUtami NN1 aMuchtar SV1 aKrismawati H1 aPatinggi AL1 aRahardjani M1 aMulyadi AN1 aHasvitasari DE1 aVan Nuil JI1 aWalker SL1 aSoebono H1 aGrijsen ML00aFear of clofazimine-induced skin discoloration as a barrier to leprosy treatment: urgent need for alternative therapeutic options  uhttps://academic.oup.com/ced/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/ced/llag349/70476194/llag349.pdf  a1 - 53 a<jats:p>Since 1982, the WHO recommends multi-drug therapy (MDT) fconsisting of three antibiotic drugs, namely rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine. While MDT is effective, its adverse effects are underrecognized. Clofazimine causes near-universal skin discoloration, and is a key barrier to treatment acceptance and adherence because it visibly discloses leprosy. Using two compelling case studies in which MDT was declined or discontinued due to fears that clofazimine-induced dyspigmentation would reveal leprosy status and harm family reputation, we highlight the challenges posed by clofazimine and the limited availability of alternative treatment options in resource-constrained settings.</jats:p>  a0307-6938, 1365-2230