Leprosy: Treatment and management of complications.

In the second article in this continuing medical education series, we review the treatment of leprosy, its immunologic reactions, and important concepts, including disease relapse and drug resistance. A fundamental understanding of the treatment options and management of neuropathic sequelae are essential to reduce disease burden and improve patients' quality of life.

Leprosy: Clinical aspects and diagnostic techniques.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a curable infectious disease that remains endemic in >140 countries around the world. Despite being declared "eliminated" as a global public health problem by the World Health Organization in the year 2000, approximately 200,000 new cases were reported worldwide in 2017. Widespread migration may bring leprosy to nonendemic areas, such as North America. In addition, there are areas in the United States where autochthonous (person-to-person) transmission of leprosy is being reported among Americans without a history of foreign exposure. In the first article in this continuing medical education series, we review leprosy epidemiology, transmission, classification, clinical features, and diagnostic challenges.

Tuberculosis and Leprosy: Classical Granulomatous Diseases in the Twenty-First Century.

Leprosy and tuberculosis are chronic mycobacterial infections that elicit granulomatous inflammation. Both infections are curable, but granulomatous injury to cutaneous structures, including cutaneous nerves in leprosy, may cause permanent damage. Both diseases are major global concerns: tuberculosis for its high prevalence and mortality, and leprosy for its persistent global presence and high rate of neuropathic disability. Cutaneous manifestations of both leprosy and tuberculosis are frequently subtle and challenging in dermatologic practice and often require a careful travel and social history and a high index of suspicion.

Evaluation of multi-drug therapy for leprosy in the United States using daily rifampin.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the occurrence of relapse of multibacillary leprosy after multi-drug treatment including daily rifampin. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed utilizing data from the National Hansen's Disease Program (NHDP) on patients with leprosy treated and followed from 1988-1997 who received multi-drug therapy including daily rifampin. The occurrence of relapse in this cohort was measured, and demographic data and various clinical variables were also gathered. RESULTS: Ultimately, 158 cases fulfilled the eligibility criteria. 77% of cases were multibacillary patients and were treated with 2 or 3 drug protocols at rates of 36% and 35% before and after 1992, respectively. Only one case of relapse was found, and this patient underwent 2-drug therapy versus 3-drug therapy. CONCLUSION: These data are remarkable for the absence of relapse with daily rifampin, as contrasted with the published experience using the WHO protocol with monthly rifampin.