EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF POSSIBLE NEW SHORT-TERM DRUG REGIMENS FOR TREATMENT OF MULTIBACILLARY LEPROSY

Groups of nude mice, with both hind footpads infected with 10(8) Mycob acterium leprae organisms, were treated with 4-week courses of differe nt drug combinations. The effect of each treatment on each group was e valuated by subinoculating footpad homogenates from the treated mice i nto groups of normal and nude mice for subsequent regrowth, assessed 1 year later. A combination of rifampin (RMP) with clarithromycin (CLAR I), minocycline (MINO), and ofloxacin (OFLO) resulted in the complete killing of M. leprae after 3 weeks of treatment, A combination of spar floxacin (SPAR) and RMP also resulted in a similar bactericidal effect after 3 weeks of treatment, Other drug combinations shelved variable effects. Very little or no effect was observed with any regimen if the treatment was given for less than 2 weeks. World Health Organization (WHO) multidrug therapy (MDT) given for 8 weeks was as effective as th e two combinations described above. The results suggest that multidrug combinations consisting of RMP-OFLO (or SPAR)-CLARI (and/or MINO) are as effective as the WHO MDT for the treatment of experimental leprosy , Moreover, they imply that these combinations, which mere found to be active in a 4-week experimental treatment protocol, could be administ ered as treatment to patients for a period of time shorter than the pr esent 2-year regimen without a loss of effectiveness.