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  • Title: Long-term follow up of multibacillary leprosy patients with high BI treated with WHO/MDT regimen for a fixed duration of two years.
    Author: Shaw IN, Natrajan MM, Rao GS, Jesudasan K, Christian M, Kavitha M.
    Journal: Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis; 2000 Dec; 68(4):405-9. PubMed ID: 11332283.
    Abstract:
    Forty-six, newly detected, previously untreated multibacillary (MB) patients with a bacterial index (BI) of > or = 3+ who had received WHO/MDT for 2 years were followed up for a total duration of 424 person-years and a mean duration of 9.26 +/- 2.98 years per patient. The BIs of the patients continued to fall, and all of the patients, except one, reached skin-smear negativity. WHO/MDT was well accepted and well tolerated. Relapse, which was defined as an increase in the BI of 1+ or more with or without clinical evidence of activity, was observed in only one patient, giving a relapse rate of 2.2% or 0.23 per 100 person-years in patients with a BI of > or = 3+ after long-term follow up. This patient was started on a second course of WHO/MDT to which he responded favorably. WHO/MDT for a fixed duration of 2 years for MB patients as recommended by the WHO is vindicated.
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