@article{9225,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Dapsone, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, leprosy, Leprosy, Borderline, Leprosy, Tuberculoid, Male, Middle Aged, Rifampin, Time Factors},
  author = {Mathai R and George S and Jacob M},
  title = {Fixed duration MDT in paucibacillary leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a fixed duration of multidrug therapy (MDT) for paucibacillary leprosy which is currently widely implemented in India. A clinico-pathological study was initiated in 1984 to assess the efficacy of this regimen. The clinical and histological responses of the patients to MDT were assessed at the end of 6 months, when their treatment was stopped, and at 2 1/2 years, when they were released from surveillance, and compared with the responses of a matched patient group to conventional dapsone (DDS) monotherapy during the same period. Of 28 patients who completed the MDT schedule, there was less than 60% improvement in 33% of them when treatment was stopped at the end of 6 months and in 20% of them at the end of 2 1/2 years. Of 26 patients receiving DDS monotherapy, 37% showed less than 60% improvement at the end of 6 months but only 8.8% had less than 60% improvement at 2 1/2 years. It is concluded that MDT for paucibacillary leprosy as recommended by WHO may not have a major advantage over DDS monotherapy, since about 20% of those patients on MDT continue to have evidence of active disease when discharged from surveillance.</p>
},
  year = {1991},
  journal = {International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association},
  volume = {59},
  pages = {237-41},
  month = {1991 Jun},
  issn = {0148-916X},
  url = {http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v59n2a03.pdf},
  doi = {10.1136/bmj.c3651},
  language = {eng},
}