02360nas a2200373 4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002900065653002400094653003300118653003000151653001100181653001100192653001000203653002300213653001200236653000900248653003900257653001700296653003000313653002200343100001100365700002000376700001400396700001600410245012400426856005100550300001000601490000700611050003200618520132200650022001401972 2006 d c2006 Mar10aAdult10aAnti-Inflammatory Agents10aDouble-Blind Method10aDrug Administration Schedule10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aFemale10aHumans10aIndia10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases10aPrednisolone10aSeverity of Illness Index10aTreatment Outcome1 aRao SP1 aSugamaran D S T1 aRichard J1 aSmith W C S00aMulti-centre, double blind, randomized trial of three steroid regimens in the treatment of type-1 reactions in leprosy. uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/77/1/02-5033 a25-330 v77 aInfolep Library - available3 a

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this randomized trial was to compare three different steroid regimens in treating type 1 reactions in leprosy in routine clinical practice.

DESIGN: The study design was a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial in patients with acute reversal reactions. The trial was conducted in six leprosy treatment centres in India. A total of 334 participants with acute type 1 reaction were recruited to the trial and randomized to one of three prednisolone regimens: high dose (60 mg per day) or low dose (30 mg per day) both tapered over 20 weeks, and short duration (60 mg per day tapered over 12 weeks). The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients failing to respond to treatment and requiring additional steroids.

RESULTS: At the end of 12 months, 46% on the short course required additional steroids compared with 31% on the low dose and 24% on the high dose regimen.

CONCLUSIONS: The two 20-week regimens were significantly better than the 12-week regimen. The high dose 20-week regimen was marginally and non-significantly better than the low dose regimen, but the high dose regimen contained 50% more steroid. Reactions in leprosy persist over many months and require long courses of steroids.

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