The anti-inflammatory profile of dapsone in animal models of inflammation.

Dapsone has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity in a variety of animal models. It possesses oral anti-oedema activity especially pronounced in novel models of acute inflammation, viz. anti-IgG and reversed passive Arthus oedemas. However, it is not very active in the guinea pig u.v. erythema model. It is effective in chronic models such as adjuvant arthritis and the cotton pellet granuloma although multiple administration may also produce cyanosis. Antipyretic and analgesic effects for dapsone have been demonstrated and are similar to those produced by phenylbutazone. It inhibits zymosan-induced beta-glucuronidase release from cultured macrophages and also the activity of this enzyme. Dapsone does not appear to be ulcerogenic in the rat.