Intermittent rifampicin therapy in lepromatous leprosy.
A double blind trial involving intermittent administration of Rifampicin in addition to daily DDS has been undertaken in order to evaluate the efficacy as also the potential dangers of such a regimen. Twenty untreated LL cases who were otherwise healthy were included in the study. Ten cases received weekly 900 mg Rifampicin for 6 weeks in addition to 100 mg daily DDS, while the rest were treated likewise but were given similar looking placebo capsules instead of RFP. A nine month follow-up, as also mouse foot pad results indicate that the efficacy of this regimen was found to be better than that with DDS alone and this compares favourably with trials involving 600 mg Rifampician administration daily. No major untoward side effects were encountered in the trial group thought the incidence of ENL was slightly higher in the trial group.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D003622:Dapsone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D012293:Rifampin