Dapsone in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Fifty patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were treated with dapsone (DDS) approximately 2 mg per kilogram body weight per day for 21 days. Forty patients (80%) were declared cured on the basis of clinical and pathologic criteria. Follow-up examination after 6 months revealed no recurrences. No major side effects were noted. In the control group of 15 patients not receiving the drug, no significant change was seen in the lesions. Dapsone thus was used successfully for the first time.