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Relapses after fixed duration multiple drug therapy: the AMFES cohort
S Gebre1, P Saunderson, P Byass
1School of Community Health Science, Nottingham University, UK. psaunderson@leprosy.org
Leprosy Review
|December 6, 2000
Summary
Fixed-duration multiple-drug therapy (MDT) shows no relapses in 502 patients up to 8 years post-treatment. This includes patients with high initial bacterial loads, addressing concerns about late relapse after MDT.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Relapse after multiple-drug therapy (MDT) for certain infections is a concern, particularly late relapses in patients with high initial bacterial loads.
- The AMFES cohort study aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes following fixed-duration MDT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term relapse rates in patients who completed fixed-duration multiple-drug therapy (MDT).
- To investigate whether patients with initially high bacterial loads are at increased risk for late relapse after MDT.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of relapse data from 502 patients in the AMFES cohort who completed fixed-duration MDT.
- Follow-up of patients for up to 8 years post-treatment, with specific attention to those with an initial bacillary index >= 4.0.
Main Results:
- No confirmed relapses were observed in the entire AMFES cohort during the follow-up period (up to 8 years).
- This finding holds true even for 57 patients with an initial average bacillary index of >= 4.0, including 20 followed for over 5 years post-MDT.
Conclusions:
- Fixed-duration MDT appears to be highly effective in preventing relapse, even in patients with significant initial bacterial burden.
- The study provides strong evidence against the likelihood of late relapses in patients treated with fixed-duration MDT.