Hansen's disease in Portugal: multibacillary patients treated between 1988 and 2003

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
S MedeirosM R Vieira

Abstract

There is an estimate low incidence of patients with Hansen's disease in Portugal. Following the 1982 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, extended multidrug therapy (MDT) was started for multibacillary (MB) patients. Patients were then treated with rifampicine (RFP), clofazimine (CLF) and dapsone (DDS) for a minimum of 2 years or until smear negativity. The aim of this study was to evaluate MDT efficacy in our patient population. Retrospective and descriptive study of 102 MB patients who underwent MDT from 1988 to 2003. The number of new MB patients has gradually increased since 1960, the first year of our consultation, due mostly to a rise in imported cases. Overall, 34% of the subjects were immigrants, mainly from former Portuguese Colonies. Forty-six patients had previously received monotherapy with DDS (mean duration of this treatment, 22 years). Relapse after MDT occurred in 9 cases (8.8%), but importantly, all relapsed cases were smear negative at least on one occasion after the end of treatment, suggesting these were true relapses rather than treatment failures. Despite the 2-year WHO-MDT regimen, patients with MB disease clearly face the possibility of relapse. We propose that any reduction in the duration o...Continue Reading

References

Nov 16, 2001·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·S MaedaY Kashiwabara
Sep 23, 2003·Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases·Andrew P Ustianowski, Diana N J Lockwood
Nov 12, 2003·International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association·Masanori MatsuokaShin-ichi Kitajima
Feb 7, 2004·International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association·Roland V CellonaDouglas S Walsh
Jun 26, 2004·International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association·Gift NormanJoseph Richard
Sep 1, 2004·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·Samuel L Moschella
Mar 10, 2005·International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association·Robert H GelberRoland V Cellona

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association
P VijayakumaranN Manimozhi
International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases : Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association
P VijayakumaranK Jesudasan
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
K U KiranP Narasimha Rao
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved