A Study of Cutaneous Manifestations by Clofazimine in Leprosy Patients.
- Author:
In Ju KIM
;
Sang Lip CHUNG
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Clofazimine*;
Coloring Agents;
Cytoplasm;
Dermis;
Frozen Sections;
Humans;
Leprosy*;
Macrophages;
Melanins;
Pigmentation;
Skin;
Sudan
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
1983;21(5):537-547
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Clofazimine (Lamprene or B668) is a phenazine congener that is used in leprosy, and the patients treated with the drug may develop red discoloration, dark brown pigmentation and ichthyotic skin. The authors observed 181 leprosy patients who had developecl discoloration, pigmentation and ichthyotic skin during clofazimine therapy, as well as disappearance of the pigmentation after stop of it. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Reddish discoloration was most frequently observed 2 weeks after beginning treatment in 66 patients (50. 4%), which showed earlier in the higher dosage grow up, 2) Dark brown pigmentation was iviost frequently observed 4 weeks after beginning treatment in 64 patients (48. 9%), which showed earlier in the higher dosage group. R) For histopathological evaluation of pigmentation, various ataining rnethods were used. On unstained frozen sections, yellow brown crystals were scattered in the dermis of both discolored and pigmented skin, and in H R E stain pigments, melanin were niarkedly increased in the epidermal basal layer and a, faint yellow brown. ghost was seen in dermis of pigmented skin. With fat stains using oil-red-0 and Sudan III, reddish amorphous materials were scattered in and around the cytoplasm of the macrophages c>f the pigmented skin. 4) Ichthyotic skin was observed in 97 patients, and most frequently 2 and R months after beginning treatment in 26 patients (26. 8%), but it was never observec1 in 34 of all patients in spite of a continuous intake of the drug for more than a. year. -countinue-
