Variability of Urinary Dapsone/Creatinine Concentration Ratios in Leprosy Patients Fully Compliant with Dapsone Therapy

Abstract

A highly sensitive and reproducible assay procedure for the determination of dapsone (DDS) and hydrolizable metabolites in urine is described. DDS/creatinine (D/C) con centration ratios, which are used to monitor compliance with DDS therapy, have been determined on samples of ali urine voided throughout a 24-h period by 7 leprosy in-patients fu lly compliant with their therapy. The D/C concentration ratios varied both within and between patients over the 24 h and the time-course of variation showed no closely predictable pattern. Urinary excretion of DDS over the 24 h was found to be 74.8%±5.7% (S.E.M.) uncorrected or 90.2%±6.8% corrected for recovery. Our results indicate an unreliability in the use of single urine samples to determine D/C ratios and hence compliance by individual patients with their DDS therapy.

The Reliability of Self-administration of Dapsone by Leprosy Patients in Burma

“…In Rangoon, the modification carried out was as described by Ellard et ai. (1974a); in Mandalay, as recently described by Hagan and Smith (1979).…”