Bacillaemia in leprosy and effect of multidrug therapy

Twenty-five patients of bacilliferous leprosy (17 LL, 8 BL) were studied by the modified haemolysis method for occurrence of bacillaemia and its clearance after two multidrug therapy regimens. Acid-fast bacilli were found in 76% of all patients and in 88.2% LL and 50% BL patients. Bacillaemia occurred with significantly reduced frequency in patients with type II reaction. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrable in peripheral blood after 1 month in one patient on MDT of an Indian Working Group and 3 lepromatous patients on WHO multidrug therapy. However, bacillaemia could not be demonstrated in any patients after 2 and 3 months of treatment with both regimens.