01834nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002600065653002400091653001000115653001200125653001100137653002100148653001300169653001200182653002700194653003900221653002500260653002800285653001800313653003100331653001800362100001200380245003100392300001200423490000700435520105200442022001401494       2010                            d  c2010 Jul10aAdult10aAnti-Infective Agents10aAutoimmune Diseases10aChild10aDapsone10aHumans10aHypersensitivity10aJaundice10aleprosy10aOrphan Drug Production10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases10aPneumocystis carinii10aPneumonia, Pneumocystis10aSkin Diseases10aTherapies, Investigational10aToxoplasmosis1 aWozel G00aInnovative use of dapsone.  a599-6100 v283 a<p>After synthesis of dapsone (4,4' diaminodiphenylsulfone) in 1908, the compound was known exclusively in chemistry. Following the epoch-making discovery of the antimicrobial potential for sulfonamides emerged, the sulfone class was included in the medical armamentarium. The therapeutic role of sulfones related to both pathogen-caused diseases and chronic inflammatory dermatoses has led to extensive use in dermatology. At present dapsone is the only sulfone congener available for clinical practice. The sulfone is used in rifampin-based multiple-drug regiments to treat multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy and to treat Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and prevent toxoplasmosis in individuals with AIDS. In dermatology, dapsone is the preferred drug for treating dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring's disease) and is useful in the management of a broad range of chronic inflammatory entities, especially autoimmune bullous disorders. With proper administration and monitoring, the sulfone should be considered a useful and safe agent.</p>  a1558-0520