Long-term follow up of multibacillary leprosy patients with high BI treated with WHO/MDT regimen for a fixed duration of two years.
Forty-six, newly detected, previously untreated multibacillary (MB) patients with a bacterial index (BI) of > or = 3+ who had received WHO/MDT for 2 years were followed up for a total duration of 424 person-years and a mean duration of 9.26 +/- 2.98 years per patient. The BIs of the patients continued to fall, and all of the patients, except one, reached skin-smear negativity. WHO/MDT was well accepted and well tolerated. Relapse, which was defined as an increase in the BI of 1+ or more with or without clinical evidence of activity, was observed in only one patient, giving a relapse rate of 2.2% or 0.23 per 100 person-years in patients with a BI of > or = 3+ after long-term follow up. This patient was started on a second course of WHO/MDT to which he responded favorably. WHO/MDT for a fixed duration of 2 years for MB patients as recommended by the WHO is vindicated.
Shaw
I N
IN
Department of Community Health, Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu 632 106, India.
Natrajan
M M
MM
Rao
G S
GS
Jesudasan
K
K
Christian
M
M
Kavitha
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009443:Neuritis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012008:Recurrence; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014944:World Health Organization
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D002991:Clofazimine; D012293:Rifampin