@article{23096,
  keywords = {Administration, Cutaneous, Administration, Oral, Adult, Aged, Biopsy, Clofazimine, Dapsone, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Leprostatic Agents, leprosy, Male, Medical Records, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Rifampin, Secondary Prevention, Treatment Outcome, United States},
  author = {Dacso MM and Jacobson RR and Scollard D and Stryjewska B and Prestigiacomo J},
  title = {Evaluation of multi-drug therapy for leprosy in the United States using daily rifampin.},
  abstract = {<p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>To evaluate the occurrence of relapse of multibacillary leprosy after multi-drug treatment including daily rifampin.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>A retrospective review was performed utilizing data from the National Hansen's Disease Program (NHDP) on patients with leprosy treated and followed from 1988-1997 who received multi-drug therapy including daily rifampin. The occurrence of relapse in this cohort was measured, and demographic data and various clinical variables were also gathered.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Ultimately, 158 cases fulfilled the eligibility criteria. 77% of cases were multibacillary patients and were treated with 2 or 3 drug protocols at rates of 36% and 35% before and after 1992, respectively. Only one case of relapse was found, and this patient underwent 2-drug therapy versus 3-drug therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>These data are remarkable for the absence of relapse with daily rifampin, as contrasted with the published experience using the WHO protocol with monthly rifampin.</p>},
  year = {2011},
  journal = {Southern medical journal},
  volume = {104},
  pages = {689-94},
  month = {2011 Oct},
  issn = {1541-8243},
  doi = {10.1097/SMJ.0b013e31822d6014},
  language = {eng},
}