01636nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653001000084653001200094653003000106653001100136653001100147653001200158653000900170653001600179653001300195100001100208700001500219700001200234700001100246245007300257300001100330490000700341050003200348520092800380022001401308       1992                            d  c1992 Apr-Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aChild10aDapsone10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aRifampin1 aKaur S1 aSharma V K1 aBasak P1 aKaur I00aPaucibacillary multidrug therapy in leprosy. 7 1/2 years experience.  a153-610 v64  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>Three hundred and twenty-three paucibacillary (PB) leprosy patients were treated with WHO-recommended multidrug therapy (MDT) and followed up for over 7 1/2 years. The paucibacillary MDT regimen (PBR) was well accepted and tolerated. Complete clinical regression was attained in 61.2% patients after 6 doses of PBR. Persistence of clinical activity after 6 months of therapy was associated with occurrence of type I upgrading reaction, presence of six or more patches and more than two thickened major nerve trunks. Reversal reactions were encountered in 15.9% patients, one third of which were accompanied by severe neuritis. Delayed upgrading reaction occurred in six patients, two patients had relapse one and two years after stopping of PBR. The WHO recommended MDT regimen for paucibacillary cases needs careful evaluation and it may be necessary to extend the treatment beyond six months in certain situations.</p>  a0254-9395