Dapsone-induced peripheral neuropathy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Dermatology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Dapsone is a common treatment for dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Long-term dapsone use can lead to various side effects.
• Peripheral neuropathy is a potential adverse effect of dapsone.

Observation:

• A young man with dermatitis herpetiformis experienced fatigue and neurologic symptoms after 4 years of dapsone treatment.
• Clinical examination and nerve conduction studies indicated a combined motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy.
• The patient's symptoms improved after discontinuing dapsone therapy.

Findings:

• Cessation of dapsone therapy led to symptomatic improvement in the patient's neuropathy.
• Nerve conduction studies corroborated the clinical improvement.
• Switching to sulfapyridine did not impede the resolution of the neuropathy.

Implications:

• This case highlights the risk of dapsone-induced peripheral neuropathy in dermatitis herpetiformis patients.
• Early recognition and discontinuation of dapsone may reverse neurologic deficits.
• Sulfapyridine can be a viable alternative for patients developing neuropathy on dapsone.