Dapsone drug compliance study among leprosy patients: a comparison between qualitative and quantitative methods.

The methods currently employed to monitor self-administration of dapsone have been evaluated by comparing the results of the qualitative spot test and quantitative DDS/creatinine ratio test. Random urine samples of 242 leprosy patients, periodically attending the Leprosy Clinic were tested. Although a good correlation between the results of the two tests was evident, the DDS/creatinine ratio technique appeared to be more sensitive than the spot test. The concentration of DDS and its metabolites in urine specimens found to be negative by the spot test, ranged from 3.32-12.37 micrograms of DDS/mg creatinine. The spot test was found to be more specific and stays to be the method of choice, when rapidity and reproducibility are the prime objectives, and sensitivity can be marginally compromised. Acidification of urine prior to the spot test was found to be desirable to rule out false negative and false positive reactions.

Bedside urinalysis in untreated leprosy patients.

The study included 53 patients of untreated leprosy attending University Hospital, Banaras Hindu University during study period of 1 1/2 years. The various types of leprosy included 9,14,16 and 14 cases of tuberculoid, borderline, lepromatous and leprosy with type II reaction respectively. Majority of the patients were below the age of 49 years with male preponderance. 66.04% of patients came from the rural area. Painful micturation (dysuria) (13.20%) was the commonest urinary complaint recorded on enquiry. Specific gravity of urine did not show any change. Abnormal proteinuria was noted in 16.98%, 11.32%, 7.54% and 3.77% of patients of leprosy with reaction, lepromatous, borderline and tuberculoid group respectively. Significant haematuria, pyuria and epithelial cells were noted in all the groups. Haematuria was recorded in focal segmental Glomerulonephritis (GN), mesangioproliferative and diffuse endocapillary Glomerulonephritis (GN) incidence of which was 7.89%, 7.89% and 5.26% respectively in the biopsy tissue. Significant pyuria was noticed in all the groups except minimal change GN.