01781nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001800080653002100098653002500119653001200144653001100156653001600167653001100183653001200194653000900206653001200215653002300227100001600250700001400266245007300280300001000353490000700363520109500370022001401465       2002                            d  c2002 Feb10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAntimalarials10aBlood Cell Count10aCase-Control Studies10aDapsone10aFemale10aHemoglobins10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aNigeria10aReticulocyte Count1 aHalim N K D1 aOgbeide E00aHaematological alterations in leprosy patients treated with dapsone.  a100-20 v793 a<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To evaluate the haemoglobin concentration (Hb); total white blood cell count (WBC), differential WBC count; platelet count and reticulocyte count in leprosy patients already treated with dapsone.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>A case-control study.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>Specialist Hospital Ossiomo, which is a Leprosarium and Haematology laboratory, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Nigeria.</p><p><b>SUBJECTS: </b>Seventy six leprosy patients (forty males and thirty six females) age range 13-40 years on single dose dapsone.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The haemoglobin concentration showed a marked decrease while the reticulocyte count was markedly elevated which was suggestive of haemolytic anaemia. There was also lymphocytosis in patients during pre and post dapsone therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Leprosy patients on a dosage of 100 mg dapsone, are prone to haemolytic anaemia. Leprosy patients should routinely have their Hb, WBC, platelet count and reticulocyte count determined, while on dapsone therapy in order to ascertain the presence of haemolysis.</p>  a0012-835X