Adverse effects from multi-drug therapy in leprosy: a Brazilian study.
BACKGROUND
The WHO MDT for leprosy treatment was officially introduced in Brazil in 1991 and comprises three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. There are few good studies on the frequency of side-effects attributable to MDT in Brazil.


METHODS
A retrospective and descriptive study carried out in a LCP in Vitória, State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. A specific and detailed protocol about side-effects was prepared and filled in from the patient records.


RESULTS
One hundred ninety four patients' records were analysed looking for side-effects attributable to MDT. Side-effects were attributed to at least one MDT component in 88 (45%) patients and 85 had side-effects due to dapsone, 24 due to rifampicin and 18 due to clofazimine. 185 episodes were identified. The suspected drug was stopped in 47 out of 88 episodes (24% patients); 46 had dapsone stopped, 5 had rifampicin stopped and no-one had clofazimine stopped.


CONCLUSIONS
Side-effects attributed to MDT is more frequent than previously described, resulting in interruption of treatment in many patients.
Departamento de Medicina Social, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Maruípe, Vitória-ES, Brasil. pdeps@uol.com.br
Patricia D
PD
Deps
Sofia
S
Nasser
Patricia
P
Guerra
Marisa
M
Simon
Rita De Cássia
Rde C
Birshner
Laura C
LC
Rodrigues
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D002991:Clofazimine; D012293:Rifampin