Treatment of leprosy with rifampicin and isoprodian in 38 patients at St. Thomas Hospital, Chetput, South India

Abstract

A clinical and bacteriological study is described of rifampicin in a dose of 300-600 mg daily combined with Isoprodian 2-3 tablets daily in 38 patients, 30 of them lepromatous in type, and continued for periods up to 16 mth. Clinical and neurological improvement was general, in some cases outstanding. Bacteriological improvement was inconstant. A rapid decline in Morphological Index to 1% or less was usual within 6 mth. In some cases the decline in Bacteriological Index was outstanding, superior to that experienced in patients receiving clofazimine or high dose dapsone, but in other cases this was not so. Side effects included mild hepatitis with jaundice in the first few weeks of treatment, which did not demand withdrawal from the trial. There was 1 case of exfoliative dermatitis, and 3 patients were withdrawn from the trial on account of severe reactions resulting in paralysis.