The relapse rate in MB leprosy patients treated with 2-years of WHO-MDT is not low.

Abstract

A group of multibacillary patients is clearly at high risk for relapse following 2-yr WHO-MDT. Relapse is largely confined to BL or LL patients with a high BI initially, and occurs long after the discontinuation of therapy. This important group of patients at risk for treatment failure presents several important issues: the need to identify those at risk and the operational requirements needed for their long term follow-up. Also, this group of patients might well benefit from an alternative antimicrobial regimen from the outset, as well as upon relapse.