John Libbey Eurotext




Dapsone-induced photodermatitis in a patient with linear IgA dermatosis
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 11, Number 1, 50-3, January - February 2001, Cas cliniques
Free Article
Author(s) : Solveig STOCKEL, Michael MEURER, Gottfried WOZEL
Summary : Dapsone (4, 4' diaminodiphenylsulfone) is an efficient antiinflammatory agent. Its therapeutic use may result in a variety of adverse effects. The most frequent unwanted reactions are hemolytic anemia and methemoglobinemia. By oral route dapsone is mainly metabolized to monoacetyldapsone (MADDS) and hydroxylamine dapsone (DDS-NOH). We report a 76-year-old female patient with linear IgA dermatosis who developed a dapsone-induced photosensitivity 8 weeks after initiation of sulfone therapy. She showed a widespread erythematous eruption in UV-exposed skin area. After clearing of skin lesions the photopatch test revealed positive reactions to dapsone, MADDS and DDS-NOH. Dapsone-induced photosensitivity to date has been described only in leprosy patients. We demonstrate for the first time that this adverse reaction is not restricted to leprosy and that dapsone metabolites may also contribute to the mechanism of photosensitivity like the parent sulfone. Dapsone-induced photosensitivity is a rare, not dose-related adverse effect of the sulfone and can also occur in patients with inflammatory skin disorders.
Keywords : adverse effect, dapsone, dapsone metabolites, linear IgA dermatosis, photosensitivity.

Dapsone-induced photodermatitis in a patient with linear IgA dermatosis