Observational studyPloS one2026
Dapsone and schistocytes: Thrombotic microangiopathy or not?
Observational study in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionDapsone is used in many infectious and immunological diseases. Dapsone may cause haemolysis, particularly in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. This hemolysis is described as oxidative and is usually not associated with the presence of schistocytes. PATIENTS AND
methodsWe conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study at the University Hospital of Tours, France (2005-2021). Adult patients who received dapsone and had a blood smear performed during treatment or within 7 days of discontinuation were included. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. Patients were classified as schistocyte-positive (≥0.1%) or -negative. Descriptive statistics were used; no further analyses were performed due to small sample size.
resultsDuring the 2005-2021 period, 19 adult patients received dapsone in our institution. Amongst them, 10 (52.6%) had detectable schistocytes, ranging from 2 to 44/1000 erythrocytes (13 ± 14.2). Patients with schistocytosis exhibited more severe hemolytic anemia, with a larger decrease in hemoglobin (-2.7 ± 1.4 g/dL vs -1.6 ± 2.12 g/dL), higher methemoglobinemia (5.2% vs 1.9%), more frequent low haptoglobin levels (88.9% vs 60%), and elevated LDH levels (557 U/L [239-671] vs 273 U/L [208-507]) compared to patients without schistocytosis. Platelet counts were similar between the two groups. No organ failure was identified in the reviewed medical records. Schistocytosis regressed upon discontinuation of treatment after 3-18 days.
conclusionDapsone appears to be associated with hemolytic anemia and the presence of schistocytes, suggesting mechanical intravascular haemolytic anaemia. Whether Dapsone-associated biological thrombotic microangiopathy can be associated with target organ damage requires further investigation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.