Incidence of neuritis among paucibacillary leprosy patients during treatment and surveillance.
A cohort study was done on 180 patients receiving the standard WHO PB-MDT regimen at the TLM Hospital in Kolkata, during MDT and 2 years of surveillance to determine the incidence of neuritis. Neuritis occurred in only 2 out of the 180 patients, confirming that the current WHO treatment for PB-MDT is attendant with minimal risk of neuritis. No risk factors were found, except pregnancy in a female patient. While addition of clofazimine in the new U-MDT under trial might take care of the occasional neuritis, further clinical research might be useful to identify sub-groups of PB patients at risk of neuritis.
John
A S
AS
Premananda Memorial Leprosy Hospital, The Leprosy Mission, Kolkata 700 006.
D000328:Adult; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D002991:Clofazimine