ABSENCE OF RELAPSE WITHIN 4 YEARS AMONG 34 MULTIBACILLARY PATIENTS WITH HIGH BLS TREATED FOR 2 YEARS WITH MDT

Thirty-four multibacillary patients with a bacterial index (BI) of 3or more were treated with 2 years of WHO multidrug therapy (WHO/MDT). Treatment was then stopped and the patients followed for a minimum of 4 years. The rate of fall in the BI in this group without further trea tment was similar to the rate of fall in the BI in an earlier group of similar patients treated with MDT until skin-smear negativity. No rel apses have been seen.