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oa Methemoglobinemia induced by Dapsone: A case report
- Source: Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care, Volume 2022, Issue 4, Nov 2022, 22
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- 27 February 2022
- 15 May 2022
- 30 June 2022
Abstract
Many drugs can cause methemoglobinemia, and dapsone is one of the most familiar. Dapsone is used to treat skin disorders like leprosy, and infections like Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. It is also used off-label in conditions like dermatitis herpetiformis, and relapsing polychondritis. In this case report, a 26-year-old male presented to the emergency department with fever and generalized weakness complaints. He was on treatment for lepromatous leprosy with dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampicin. His room air oxygen saturation was 80 %, so he was started on high-flow oxygen therapy and vitamin C. His blood gas and methemoglobin levels were frequently monitored till the methemoglobin level was normal. By the third day, he maintained his saturation above 95% on room air. The results in this work emphasize the importance of evaluating hypoxia for uncommon causes like methemoglobinemia as misdiagnosis can lead to fatal complications.