Methemoglobulinemia due to Dapson Use: A Case Report

Dapson, although generally well tolerated, can lead to hematological side effects. Although methemoglobinemia is a rare clinical condition, it can culminate in death if not treated in a timely and appropriate manner. A 21-year-old male patient presented to our outpatient clinic with shortness of breath, with oxygen saturation in ambient air measured by pulse oximetry at 88%. His initial medical history and physical examination were unremarkable for possible causes of dyspnea, while arterial blood gas measurements revealed methemoglobin elevation (Fmethb: 10.6). Detailed history revealed that dyspnea with subsequent hypoxia had started after dapsone treatment due to IgA dermatitis. We present this case report to highlight the possible role of dapsone as a rare cause of hypoxemia and methemoglobinemia, as exemplified in this young patient undergoing dapsone treatment for IgA dermatitis in which dyspnea was the initial symptom.

Dapson Kullanýmýna Baðlý Geliþen Methemoglobinemi: Olgu Sunumu

Dapson genellikle iyi tolere edilmesine raðmen hematolojik yan etkiler gösterebilmektedir. Methemoglobinemi ender görülen bir klinik durum olmasýna karþýn, zamanýnda ve uygun tedavi edilmediði takdirde ölüme neden olabilir. Yirmi bir yaþýnda erkek hasta nefes darlýðý nedeni ile polikliniðimize baþvurdu. Oda havasýnda ölçülen okijen saturasyonu %88 idi. Öykü, fizik muayene ve tetkiklerinde nefes darlýðýný açýklayacak bulgu yoktu. Arter kan gazýnda methemoglobin düzeyi yüksek (Fmethb: 10,6) olarak saptandý. Dispne ve hipoksi bulgularý olan hastada ayrýntýlý anamnezde IG A Dermatitine baðlý dapson kullanýmý olduðu öðrenildi. IG A dermatiti nedeniyle dapson kullanan ve dispne ile baþvuran genç hastada hipoksemi ve methemoglobineminin nadir nedenlerinden olan dapson kullanýmýný akla getirmek adýna bu olguyu sunuyoruz.