Skip to content
  • KIT
  • Institute
  • Publications
  • Treatment with corticosteroids of long-standing nerve function impairment in leprosy: a randomized controlled trial (TRIPOD 3)

Treatment with corticosteroids of long-standing nerve function impairment in leprosy: a randomized controlled trial (TRIPOD 3)

Authors
J. H. Richardus, S. G. Withington, A.M. Anderson, R. P. Croft, P. G. Nicholls, W.H. van Brakel, W.C.S. Smith

Nerve Function Impairment (NFI) in leprosy patients may lead to severe disabilities, such as muscle paralysis of face, hands and feet, and chronic plantar and palmar ulceration. For many years, the mainstay of treatment of NFI of less than 6 months duration, in particular in the presence of clinically manifest type 1 reaction, has been with corticosteriods. For NFI of longer than 6 months duration, however, this treatment is not recommended. Beyond 6 months of NFI, never fibres are considered to be damaged irreversibly, and are therefore unlikely to respond to treatment. Yet there are indications that some patients with long-standing NFI have responded favourably to treatment with corticosteriods.

Related work

  • Long Term Collaboration with Netherlands Leprosy Relief

    • Institute
    • Project

    In a long-term collaboration, KIT Royal Tropical Institute and the Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR) have been working to reduce leprosy, whilst improving methods for its evaluation and study. This has resulted in significant research contribution and global policy setting, as well as country-level improvements in leprosy detection and control. Furthering the agenda in global leprosy […]

    Read more : Long Term Collaboration with Netherlands Leprosy Relief

  • The INFIR Cohort Study: assessment of sensory and motor neuropathy in leprosy at baseline

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Leprosy is known for the neuropathy it causes. Different methods have been used to detect leprosy-related nerve function impairment (NFI).More sophisticated methods for assessing nerve function such as vibrometry, laser Doppler flowmetry and thermal threshold testing have been shown to detect different modalities of leprous neuropathy. However, it is not known which of these testing […]

    Read more : The INFIR Cohort Study: assessment of sensory and motor neuropathy in leprosy at baseline

  • The INFIR Cohort Study: investigating prediction, detection and pathogenesis of neuropathy and reactions in leprosy

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Leprosy is feared because of the deformities and disability that it may cause. Successful leprosy treatment should prevent or heal deformities and disabilities. Most of these are secondary complications of impaired of nerve function, often caused by immunological reactions against M. leprae antigens. Unfortunately, people remain at risk of neuropathy resulting from such reactions during […]

    Read more : The INFIR Cohort Study: investigating prediction, detection and pathogenesis of neuropathy and reactions in leprosy

Links

Downloads