Leprosy: current situation, clinical and laboratory aspects, treatment history and perspective of the uniform multidrug therapy for all patients

Abstract

In this review, the most relevant and current epidemiological data, the main clinical, laboratory and therapeutical aspects of leprosy are presented. Detailed discussion of the main drugs used for leprosy treatment, their most relevant adverse effects, evolution of the therapeutic regimen, from dapsone as a monotherapy to the proposed polychemotherapy by World Health Organization (WHO) can be found in this CME. We specifically highlight the drug acceptability, reduction in treatment duration and the most recent proposal of a single therapeutic regimen, with a fixed six months duration, for all clinical presentations, regardless of their classification.

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes com hanseníase atendidos em hospital universitário no Rio de Janeiro entre 2008 e 2017

“…A hanseníase é uma doença crônica e infecciosa causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, bacilo intracelular obrigatório, que afeta principalmente a pele, as mucosas e os nervos periféricos. 1 A principal forma de transmissão da doença é o convívio com pacientes portadores de formas clínicas multibacilares e sem tratamento, através da via respiratória. 1 A capacidade de gerar danos permanentes e deformidades está intimamente relacionada à interação entre o sistema imunológico e o patógeno, conferindo amplo espectro clínico à doença.…”

“…1 A principal forma de transmissão da doença é o convívio com pacientes portadores de formas clínicas multibacilares e sem tratamento, através da via respiratória. 1 A capacidade de gerar danos permanentes e deformidades está intimamente relacionada à interação entre o sistema imunológico e o patógeno, conferindo amplo espectro clínico à doença. De acordo com a classificação de Madri, a doença pode ser dividida em indeterminada, tuberculoide, virchowiana e dimorfa (borderline).…”

Cutaneous leprosy in Central Florida man with significant armadillo exposure

“…Leprosy is a chronic, infectious, granulomatous disease caused by the intracellular bacillus M. leprae that infects macrophages and Schwann cells 2–6. These bacteria survive in cooler parts of the body leading to damage of the extremities, ears and face 6.…”

Preparation, characterization, intrinsic dissolution studies and microbiological assessment of dapsone tosylate polymorphs

“…Dapsone (DAP, 4-((4-aminophenyl) sulfonyl) aniline, Figure 1) is an antimicrobial drug that is usually combined with rifampicin and clofazimine for the treatment Mycobacterium leprae [1]. It is also employed in clinical trials for the treatment of thrombocytopenia [2] and Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (childhood vasculitis) [3].…”