clofazimine enteropathy

clofazimine enteropathy

A potentially life-threatening enteropathy caused by the deposition of crystalline material in enterocytes secondary to treatment with clofazimine which has been used to treat leprosy and Mycobacterium avium complex in immunocompromised patients.
Clinical findings
Colicky abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss in up to 50% of patients taking the drug. Abdominal organs (liver and spleen, GI and gallbladder mucosa and bile) accumulate clofazimine crystals, resulting in diffuse visceral hyperpigmentation, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilic mucosal and submucosal infiltration, oedema, and hypoalbuminaemia.