Follow-up on short-course 2 months' rifampicin treatment of paucibacillary leprosy

Abstract

The results of follow-up for between 1 and 3.5 years of paucibacillary leprosy patients treated with 8 weekly doses of 900 mg rifampicin are presented. In the pilot trial in Burundi, 8 patients were followed for 3 years and more. All did well, including 1 patient who developed a reversal reaction. In Addis Ababa, 3 patients on rifampicin developed neuritis at 9-18 weeks after the start of therapy and were excluded from the trial. Three patients treated with rifampicin were followed for 3 years and 5 for at least 2 years. All patients had their lesions healed or considerably improved, there were no relapses and no adverse effects due to the intermittent administration of the drug. Three patients in the dapsone-treated group were followed for 3 years and 2 for at least 2 years. In this group 1 patient developed severe neuritis and 2 others, who absconded for about 2 years, did not improve clinically, or worsen. Compared with standard dapsone therapy rifampicin treatment did not accelerate healing; neuritis was not more frequent but it occurred much earlier. Some points to be taken care of in similar future trials are discussed.