LEPROSY
Leprosy Review
0305-7518
British Leprosy Relief Association
Colchester, UK
19-0098
0305-7518/19/064053+11
10.47276/lr.90.4.388
Original Papers
Levels of disability and relapse in Bangladeshi MB leprosy cases, 10 years after treatment with 6m MB-MDT
C. R. Butlin et al.
Disability in MB leprosy cases 10 years after 6m MB-MDT
Maug AungKya Jai
bWithingtonStephen
cNichollsPeter
dAlamKhorshed
aa
The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
b
Medical Director, Damien Foundation Bangladesh, Faridpur, Bangladesh
c
Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
d
Independent Statistician, UK
Correspondence to: C. Ruth Butlin, DBLM Hospital, Notkhana, PO Nilphamari, Nilphamari district 5300, Bangladesh (e-mail: drbutlin@yahoo.com)
01122019
90
4
388
398
26062019
© Lepra
2019
Introduction:
Since 1998 the recommended duration of treatment for multi- bacillary (MB) leprosy cases has been 12 months. Further shortening the duration of multi-drug therapy (MDT) for MB cases has been proposed, but evidence regarding long term outcomes is still needed. Disability outcomes are as important for the affected individual as the bacteriological response.
Methods:
Newly diagnosed MB leprosy cases were recruited from 2 NGO projects in Bangladesh for treatment with 6m MB-MDT, and followed up for 10 years from diagnosis. Their outcomes were compared with those in a similar annual cohort of MB cases from the same projects who were diagnosed during the previous year, treated with 12m MB-MDT, and followed up in the same way.
Results:
Over a 10 year period there were no differences in outcomes between the 6m MB-MDT group and the control group who received 12m MB-MDT in regard to WHO disability grade or degree of nerve function impairment (NFI). The proportion of subjects ever needing steroids for reaction/neuritis did not differ between regimens. Mean duration of steroid therapy was longer in the 12m group. Only one relapse was diagnosed in 10 years of follow-up. This occurred at 9 years follow up, from a patient in the 6m treatment group.
Conclusion:
In 2 cohorts of leprosy affected people who were actively followed up, the level of disability and the rate of relapse at 10 years after diagnosis was not significantly different between those receiving either 6m or 12m MB-MDT.
ChemotherapyMB leprosyU-MDTDisabilityWHO gradeNerve function impairmentRelapseBacteriological indexReaction