01974nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653001100084653004300095653001000138653001600148653001200164653003000176653001100206653001100217653002300228653001200251653000900263653002200272653001600294653002600310653001300336100002100349700002200370700002000392245013900412300001000551490000700561050003200568520098600600022001401586       2001                            d  c2001 Apr-Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAnemia10aChemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury10aChild10aClofazimine10aDapsone10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aFemale10aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMethemoglobinemia10aMiddle Aged10aRetrospective Studies10aRifampin1 aKaluarachchi S I1 aFernandopulle B M1 aGunawardane B P00aHepatic and haematological adverse reactions associated with the use of multidrug therapy in leprosy--a five year retrospective study.  a121-90 v73  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>This study analyses retrospectively some of the risks associated with the use of WHO-multidrug therapy (MDT) in Sri Lanka. Case records of 3,333 new cases of leprosy attending the Central Leprosy Clinic in Colombo during 1991-1995, were analysed for adverse drug reactions involving the liver and blood. There were 81 reports of suspected hepatic or haematological adverse reactions associated with the use of MDT, of which 39 were classified as haemolytic anaemia, 25 as toxic hepatitis, 2 as methaemoglobinaemia and 15 as anaemia. Dapsone, was incriminated in the majority of adverse reactions (72%). Adverse drug reactions were more common in female than male subjects (55% vs 45%; P < 0.5), but there was no significant differences between the age groups. Majority of adverse reactions was seen within the first three months of initiation of MDT. This study in no way undermines the benefits of MDT but highlights the risks and suggests measures to minimize these risks.</p>  a0254-9395