title: A clinical trial of pefloxacin and ofloxacin in lepromatous leprosy.
abstract: A 2-month clinical trial of pefloxacin and ofloxacin in previously untreated multibacillary patients was conducted at the Leonard Wood Memorial Leprosy Research Center, Cebu, the Philippines. Treatment with either pefloxacin or ofloxacin resulted in rapid clinical improvement, in this regard pefloxacin appearing somewhat superior. Reactions and side effects were minimal. Single doses of either agent did not result in significant killing of Mycobacterium leprae, but significant bactericidal activity was observed for all fluoroquinolone-treated patients by one week of daily therapy (n = 21), and either agent independently by 3 weeks of daily therapy. At the completion of therapy only two of 10 pefloxacin-treated patients and 0 of 11 ofloxacin-treated patients harboured any detectable viable M. leprae from active lesions, confirming previous work that these fluoroquinolones exhibit bactericidal activity in leprosy patients and more than that found previously for dapsone and clofazimine.
authors.affiliation: Leonard Wood Memorial Center for Leprosy Research, Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
authors.forename: Tranquilino T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Laarni G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Villahermosa
authors.forename: Eduardo C Dela
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Roland V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Cellona
authors.forename: Ma Victoria F
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Balagon
authors.forename: Rodolfo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gelber
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015366:Pefloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010679:Philippines; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015366:Pefloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin