Combined chemotherapy of multibacillary leprosy patients

Abstract

380 multibacillary leprosy patients were treated with combined chemotherapy at Anandaban leprosy hospital in Nepal. The drugs used were Rifampicin, Dapsone, Clofazamine and Isoprodian. This treatment is modelled on the short course chemotherapy of tuberculosis. A remarkable clinical and bacteriological improvement was observed in all patients. Group A patients were bacteriologically negative after 24-32 months of treatment and group B patients were skin smear positive even after 36 months of treatment. However, patients in group C, who received five drugs, showed marked clinical and bacteriological improvement. Discolouration caused by Clofazamine did not lead to interruption of treatment. We found the drug regimens safe, effective and economical.