Comparative efficacy of thalidomide and prednisolone in the treatment of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum: a randomized study.
The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of thalidomide to that of oral prednisolone in the treatment of moderate to severe type 2 lepra reaction. Sixty patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of erythema nodosum leprosum with a clinical score of 4 or more (i.e. moderate to severe type 2 reaction) were randomly allocated to two groups comprising 30 patients each. Group 1 patients were given thalidomide at a dose of 300 mg/day for 1 week and the dose was gradually reduced, and Group 2 received prednisolone 40 mg daily for 2 weeks, which was tapered by 10 mg every 2 weeks. Thalidomide induced a faster clinical response (cutaneous as well as systemic) compared with prednisolone. Patients taking thalidomide had fewer relapses and a longer period of remission than those receiving prednisolone.
Kaur
Inderjeet
I
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Dogra
Sunil
S
Narang
Tarun
T
De
Dipankar
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013792:Thalidomide; D011239:Prednisolone