[Value of dapsone in the treatment of digestive manifestations of rheumatoid purpura in adults].

The authors report a case of adult rheumatoid purpura with severe gastrointestinal complications which responded extremely well to treatment with Dapsone. Although this drug has been reported to be effective in treating some forms of allergic vasculitis and the cutaneous manifestations of rheumatic purpura, there have not been any previous reports of its beneficial action in the treatment of the gastrointestinal complications of rheumatoid purpura. The mode of action is not fully understood. Dapsone could constitute a valuable therapeutic option together with steroids, parenteral nutrition and plasmapheresis in the treatment of the gastrointestinal complications of rheumatoid purpura.