Related Experiment Videos
Clofazimine induced nail changes
V B Dixit1, S D Chaudhary, V K Jain
1Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak, Haryana.
Indian Journal of Leprosy
|October 1, 1989
Summary
High doses of clofazimine in leprosy patients can cause nail discoloration and changes. Reducing the clofazimine dosage led to the gradual disappearance of these adverse nail effects.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
- Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a common inflammatory complication of leprosy.
- Clofazimine is a key drug in multidrug therapy for leprosy, often used at high doses for ENL management.
Observation:
- Two lepromatous leprosy patients experiencing ENL were treated with high-dose clofazimine.
- These patients developed nail plate discoloration, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onycholysis.
- The observed nail changes were attributed to the high clofazimine dosage.
Findings:
- A direct correlation was observed between high-dose clofazimine therapy and the development of specific nail abnormalities.
- Reduction in clofazimine dosage resulted in the gradual resolution of nail discoloration, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onycholysis.
- This suggests that clofazimine-induced nail changes are dose-dependent and reversible.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of potential nail side effects associated with high-dose clofazimine treatment in leprosy patients.
- Monitoring for nail changes may be warranted in patients on prolonged high-dose clofazimine therapy.
- Dosage adjustment of clofazimine can effectively manage these adverse nail reactions, improving patient adherence and quality of life.