Premium
Cutaneous involvement of dermatomyositis can respond to Dapsone therapy
Author(s) -
Cohen Jack B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2002.01409.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dapsone , dermatomyositis , hydroxychloroquine , dermatology , prednisone , tacrolimus , leprosy , surgery , transplantation , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background Dapsone (4,4‐diaminodiphenylsulfone) is a sulfone antibiotic used in the treatment of leprosy, but dermatologists more commonly utilize its anti‐inflammatory properties particularly directed against leukocytes to treat various bullous disorders, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, Sweet’s syndrome, cutaneous vasculitis, and cutaneous forms of lupus erythematosus. The cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis are often resistant to antimalarial and immunosuppressive therapies. Methods Two patients with cutaneous dermatomyositis unresponsive to combination therapy with prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine, and immunosuppressive medications had Dapsone added to their therapy. Results Both patients showed rapid improvement with the addition of Dapsone. Each had an exacerbation of their cutaneous dermatomyositis on Dapsone with withdrawal and subsequent improvement when the Dapsone was reinstituted. Conclusions Dapsone therapy for cutaneous dermatomyositis may have a wider role in treatment for these patients refractory to prednisone and antimalarial therapy.