Relapse as histoid leprosy after receiving multidrug therapy (MDT); a report of three cases

The histoid type of leprosy has been described as occurring in lepromatous leprosy patients who relapse after many years of apparently successful daps one monotherapy. Three patients who had received the World Health Organizat ion-recommended regimens of multidrug therapy (WHO/ MDT) relapsed as histoi d leprosy 12-15 years after completion of treatment. In one patient, throug h mouse foot pad studies, the bacilli were found to be sensitive to rifampi n and clofazimine and resistant to dapsone. In the other two patients mouse foot pad studies were inconclusive. The patients were re-started on WHO/ MDT. Two patients took regular treatme nt and improved, both clinically and bacteriologically. One patient was irr egular in treatment, and 1 year after re-starting WHO/ MDT nodules were sti ll present although the bacterial index had fallen slightly.