Effect of Prothionamide on the Infectivity of Lepromatous Leprosy

To study the effect of prothionamide. on the infectivity of untreated lepromatous patients 20 cases were randomly given either 250 mg or 500 mg prothionamide monotherapy daily for 2 months. All patients tolerated the drug well. Clinical improvement with healing of mucosal ulcers was seen in 13 of the 16 cases. Nasal smears become negative in all the cases within 2 months. Mouse footpad inoculation done from biopsy specimens/skin scrape suspension- s became non infective to mice in all the cases within the trial period. There was a substantial reduction in ,the MI and histopathology showed complete fragmentation of the bacilli with a significant increase in the lymphocyte content. The -findings suggest a rapid bactericidal effect and a similar, use fullness on both the doses of the drug for the treatment of multibacillary leprosy.