The incubation time of relapses after treatment of multibacillary leprosy with rifampicin containing regimens |
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Authors: | S. R. Pattyn G. Groenen J. Bourland A. De Muynck S. Grillone G. Grossetete J. A. Husser L. Janssens |
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Affiliation: | (1) University of Antwerp and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium;(2) Damien Foundation, Kisangani, Zaire;(3) Programme National Lepre-Tuberculose, Bujumbura, Burundi;(4) Department epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium;(5) Service National Lèpre, Republique Federale Islamique des (Comores);(6) Institut Marchoux, Bamako, Mali;(7) Damien Foundation, Mushienene, Zaire |
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Abstract: | In order to determine the duration of follow-up needed to evaluate the efficacy of short-course bactericidal regimens for multibacillary leprosy, information is needed on the incubation time of relapses after stopping treatment. Several groups of patients, who had been on rifampicin-containing regimens, were followed up for periods ranging from 4 to 10 years, Two groups of relapses were observed: early relapses occurring within 3.5 years after stopping treatment, with a median incubation time of 1 year and 10 months (upper limit of 95% confidence interval: 2 years); and late relapses occurring more than 3.5 years after stopping treatment, with a median incubation of 5 years. Early relapses are probably due to insufficient treatment, and late relapses to persisting bacilli or to reinfection. It is concluded that the efficacy of short-course RMP-containing therapeutic regimens can be evaluated by observing the occurrence of early relapses, 50% of which occur before 2 years after the end of therapy.Corresponding author. |
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Keywords: | Leprosy Rifampicin |
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