Paucibacillary leprosy: a comparative study of different schedules of multidrug therapy

The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of various multidrug regimens (MDT). Three groups of 10 cases each of Paucibacillary cases were given different schedule of multidrug therapy. First group (T-0) was administered modified WHO regimen consisting of Rifampicin 600 mg once a month, Clofazimine 100 mg alternate days and Dapsone 100 mg daily for 6 months. In second group (T-1) Rifampicin 600 mg was given daily for 6 weeks and in third group (T-2) Rifampicin 600 mg was given daily for 6 months. In both the latter groups Clofazimine 100 mg on alternate days and Dapsone 100 mg daily was also administered for 6 months. Objective clinical scoring was done at the time of admission, three months and six months after treatment in all three groups. The best results were obtained by T-2 followed by T-1; and least effective was T-0 regimen. Pinkish colour of urine and skin was observed in 26 cases and icthyosis in all the cases. All the patients remain under treatment. The work is in progress and subsequent results will be published later.