Hepatotoxicity of combined therapy with rifampicin and daily prothionamide for leprosy

Abstract

Liver injury was observed in 56% of 39 leprosy patients treated with combinations of dapsone, prothionamide (PTH), and isopiperazinylrifamycin SV in Hai-an, and 22% of 50 patients treated with a combination of dapsone, rifampicin (RMP), PTH and clofazimine in Shanghai. Fatalities occurred among both groups of patients after 3 or 4 months of combined chemotherapy. The drug responsible for liver injury was probably PTH, although RMP administered simultaneously may have been a contributing factor. It appears necessary to examine liver function monthly during the first 6 months of treatment by a combined drug regimen that includes PTH.