Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Dapsone is an antibacterial of the sulfone family that also calms some kinds of inflammation. It is used, with other medicines, to treat leprosy, to prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with weakened immunity, for the itchy skin condition dermatitis herpetiformis, and as a gel for acne. It is sold under several names, including Aczone for the gel.
G6PD protects red blood cells from chemical stress. People with G6PD deficiency, common in people of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry and more often in men because the gene is on the X chromosome, are at higher risk of haemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells, when taking dapsone. CPIC has published a guideline on G6PD that covers dapsone, and the US label mentions it. Separately, HLA-B*13:01, most common in Asian populations, is linked to a rare severe hypersensitivity reaction.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Dapsone. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
US FDA: G6PD. Deficient · Deficient with CNSHA · Variable. 2018.
Every published finding on gene variants and Dapsone. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
HLA-B HLA-B*13:01: Level 2A · replicated. Toxicity: Drug Hypersensitivity, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, Leprosy, Maculopapular Exanthema, Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. 6.
HLA-B HLA-B*15:02: Level 3. Toxicity: Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. 1.
HLA-DRB1 rs701829: Level 3. Toxicity: Drug Hypersensitivity. 1.
HLA-DRB1 rs17211071: Level 3. Toxicity: Drug Hypersensitivity. 1.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Sulfamethoxazole (Sulfonamides)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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