Short term chemotherapy of paucibacillary leprosy

Twenty freshly diagnosed, previously untreated, adult male patients with paucibacillary leprosy were treated with Multi drug therapy (MDT) according to WHO regimen (1982). The patients remained in the hospital throughout the course of the study. At the end of six months treatment, they were evaluated clinicobacteriologically and histologically for evidence of the disease activity. Active disease was present in 55% of the patients at the end of six months treatment. DDS had to be discontinued in one patient who developed hepatitis.