Clinical trial of fusidic acid for lepromatous leprosy.
Fusidic acid was assessed for antileprosy activity in nine lepromatous leprosy patients. Patients received fusidic acid at either 500 mg/day for 12 weeks or 750 mg/day for 4 weeks followed by 500 mg/day for 8 weeks. All patients showed time-dependent clinical improvement and decreases in bacillary morphological index, radiorespirometric activity and PCR signal, and in serum phenolic glycolipid I. Fusidic acid appears to be a weakly bactericidal antileprosy agent which may have a role in the multidrug treatment of leprosy pending an evaluation of lepra-reaction-suppressive activity.
Laboratory Research Branch, Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70894.
S G
SG
Franzblau
G P
GP
Chan
B G
BG
Garcia-Ignacio
V E
VE
Chavez
J B
JB
Livelo
C L
CL
Jimenez
M L
ML
Parrilla
R F
RF
Calvo
D L
DL
Williams
T P
TP
Gillis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005672:Fusidic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013147:Spirometry; D013997:Time Factors
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae; D005672:Fusidic Acid