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

• Published in: Anais brasileiros de dermatología Vol. 92; no. 6; pp. 761 - 773
• Main Authors: Cruz, Rossilene Conceição da Silva, Bührer-Sékula, Samira, Penna, Maria Lúcia F., Penna, Gerson Oliveira, Talhari, Sinésio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Clofazimine - therapeutic use; Combined modality therapy; Continuing Medical Education; Dapsone - therapeutic use; DERMATOLOGY; Drug combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Leprostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Leprosy; Leprosy - drug therapy; Leprosy - pathology; Patient Satisfaction; Rifampin - therapeutic use; Therapeutics; Treatment Outcome; Leprosy; Drug combinations; Combined modality therapy; Therapeutics
• ISSN: 0365-0596; 1806-4841; 1806-4841
• DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20176724

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.