title: Short course treatment of tuberculoid cases--a feasibility study.
abstract: With an aim to reduce the length of treatment of leprosy, as a first step an investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance therapy in non-lepromatous cases. Relapse rates in a group of 47 cases, in whom treatment had been given only til the point of inactivity (the trial group) have been compared with a similar group of 27 cases who received additional 18 months maintenance therapy (the control group). No difference in relapse rates has been found (2.13 per 1000 patient months in trial group as against 2.58 per 1000 patient months in the control group). This suggests that additional 18 months maintenance therapy, as is currently recommended, does not offer any additional advantage in reducing the relapses.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents