Relapses in multibacillary leprosy patients after multidrug therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude of relapses in multibacillary leprosy patients after multi-drug therapy and to determine the factors influencing the relapse.


METHODS
A retrospective study pertaining to multibacillary leprosy patients treated with MBMDT as per WHO guidelines was carried out. The study included 300 MB patients who had successfully completed treatment during 1986-2002, of whom 163 patients were available for follow-up. Patients were examined clinically and bacteriologically to asses the present status of disease.


RESULTS
A total of three cases relapsed at 2, 4 and 11 years after being released from treatment which gives a crude cumulative relapse rate of 1.84% for the 18 year period of follow-up with mean duration of follow-up 7.13 +/- 1.25 years. It also gives the total follow-up period of 1163 person-years with the relapse rate of 0.26/100 person-years of follow-up (95% confidence interval is 0.235-0.285).


CONCLUSIONS
Relapse rate after WHO recommended MDT leprosy is low. High bacterial load before initiation of therapy is an important factor which determines the relapse.
Poojabylaiah
Mitranna
M
Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Kankanady, Mangalore 575 002, Karnataka, India.
Marne
Ramesh Bhat
RB
Varikkodan
Rajina
R
Bala
Nandakishore
N
Dandakeri
Sukumar
S
Martis
Jacintha
J
D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014944:World Health Organization
D007917:Leprostatic Agents