Multidrug therapy for treatment of paucibacillary leprosy in western Kenya--preliminary communications

A prospective study is being undertaken in Western Kenya to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of WHO-MDT, while at the same time comparing it to a modified multidrug regimen, which is rifampicin 1500mg at the onset supervised, and repeated after 3 months and dapsone 100mg daily for 6 months. Preliminary analysis done on 127 cases admitted into the study are presented. The inactivity index observed between 0-12 weeks was 20% for WHO-MDT and 47% for modified-MDT (p less than 0.01). The inactivity index observed between 0-24 weeks was 63.3% for WHO-MDT and 82.3% for modified-MDT (p less than 0.05). The inactivity index observed between 0-32 weeks was 83% for WHO-MDT, and 88% for modified-MDT. Type 1 reaction was noted in 23.3% on those on WHO-MDT, and 20.3% on those cases on modified-MDT (p greater than 0.1). Compliance rate was 93.8% for those on WHO-MDT and 95.2% on those on modified MDT. All regimens were well tolerated. These preliminary results indicate that MDT is effective in treatment of paucibacillary leprosy, and also that clinical cure can be achieved in much shorter duration, particularly with higher dosage of rifampicin.