title: A comparative clinical trial in multibacillary leprosy with long-term relapse rates of four different multidrug regimens.
abstract: As a participant in a multicenter trial, we evaluated the relapse rate in 189 multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients treated with four different regimens and followed-up for as many as 12 years after the initiation of treatment. Treatment regimens included 1 year of WHO MDT (a regimen including dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampin), 2 years of WHO MDT, 1 month of daily rifampin and daily ofloxacin, and 1 year of WHO MDT plus an initial 1 month of daily rifampin and daily ofloxacin. Relapse rates after 9 and 12 years from the initiation of therapy in the three regimens that included WHO MDT were 0-3%, whereas relapses occurred in those treated with the 1-month regimen alone at a significantly greater rate (P < 0.05): 11% at 9 years and 25% at 12 years. Relapses occurred late, beginning at 5 years after the initiation of therapy, and were confined to those patients histopathologically borderline lepromatous and polar lepromatous having a high bacterial burden. Prospects for an alternative effective short-course therapy of leprosy are presented.
authors.affiliation: Leonard Wood Memorial Center for Leprosy Research, Cebu City, Philippines.
authors.forename: Tranquilino T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Laarni
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villahermosa
authors.forename: Fe Eleanor F
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pardillo
authors.forename: Rodolfo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dela Cruz
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gelber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents