01986nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002100055653001600076653001200092653003000104653001100134653001100145653002300156653001200179653000900191653001300200100001600213700001300229700001500242700001500257245008300272300001000355490000700365520131000372022001401682       2002                            d  c2002 Aug10aBlood Cell Count10aClofazimine10aDapsone10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aFemale10aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aRifampin1 aQueiroz RHC1 aSouza AM1 aSampaio SV1 aMelchior E00aBiochemical and hematological side effects of clofazimine in leprosy patients.  a191-40 v463 a<p>Gastrointestinal toxicity and red skin discoloration were the major side effects observed in leprosy patients undergoing long-term treatment with clofazimine (CFZ). Hematological and biochemical alterations have been cited among other side effects; however, their real magnitude and clinical significance at the doses currently employed in therapy have not been sufficiently documented. We therefore investigated the correlation between CFZ plasma concentration and biochemical (transaminases, bilirubins, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, amylase, urea, creatinine, and potassium plasma levels) as well as hematological changes blood and reticulocyte counts, osmotic fragility, detection of Heinz bodies and methemoglobinemia (MHM), following in two regimes of treatment: CFZ as a single drug and CFZ as part of multidrug (MDT) therapy, in combination with dapsone and rifampicin. MHM and hemolytic anemia were detected in the MDT group only. Eosinophilia was found in patients of either group. Determination of hepatic, pancreatic and renal biochemical parameters showed rare, occasional changes of apparently no clinical significance. We conclude that CFZ is a generally well tolerated and safe drug when given as a daily dose of 50mg, which is currently used in leprosy patients.</p>  a1043-6618