Long-term follow up of multibacillary leprosy patients with high BI treated with WHO/MDT regimen for a fixed duration of two years

Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 2000 Dec;68(4):405-9.

Abstract

Forty-six, newly detected, previously untreated multibacillary (MB) patients with a bacterial index (BI) of > or = 3+ who had received WHO/MDT for 2 years were followed up for a total duration of 424 person-years and a mean duration of 9.26 +/- 2.98 years per patient. The BIs of the patients continued to fall, and all of the patients, except one, reached skin-smear negativity. WHO/MDT was well accepted and well tolerated. Relapse, which was defined as an increase in the BI of 1+ or more with or without clinical evidence of activity, was observed in only one patient, giving a relapse rate of 2.2% or 0.23 per 100 person-years in patients with a BI of > or = 3+ after long-term follow up. This patient was started on a second course of WHO/MDT to which he responded favorably. WHO/MDT for a fixed duration of 2 years for MB patients as recommended by the WHO is vindicated.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clofazimine / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dapsone / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leprostatic Agents / adverse effects
  • Leprostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Leprosy / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Neuritis / chemically induced
  • Recurrence
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • World Health Organization

Substances

  • Leprostatic Agents
  • Dapsone
  • Clofazimine
  • Rifampin