Cartel J L, Boutin J P, Spiegel A, Plichart R, Roux J F
Institut Territorial de Recherches Medicales Louis Malarde, Papeete Tahiti-Polynesie Francaise.
Lepr Rev. 1991 Jun;62(2):186-92. doi: 10.5935/0305-7518.19910022.
Between 1946 and 1970, 295 new leprosy patients were detected in French Polynesia, of whom 145 were multibacillary. Of these 145, put on dapsone monotherapy, 131 reached bacteriological negativity in a period of time ranging from 2 to 12 years (average 4.72 years) and were followed-up for a period of time ranging from 19 to 43 years (median follow-up period after bacteriological negativity; 18 years). Among the 131 patients, 36 relapses were detected, the first one 4 years after bacteriological negativity and the last one 26 years after. The crude relapse rate was 27.5%, the risk of relapse was 1.39 per 100 patient years and the cumulative relapse probability, calculated using the lifetable method, reached 0.38 +/- 11 by year 31 of the study. From these findings one may assume that, at least in French Polynesia, one-third to one-half of multibacillary patients put on dapsone monotherapy would relapse if still present 36 years after bacteriological negativity. Such results re-emphasize the need for leprosy patients to be treated with multidrug therapy as recommended by WHO.
1946年至1970年间，法属波利尼西亚共发现295例新麻风病患者，其中145例为多菌型。在这145例接受氨苯砜单药治疗的患者中，131例在2至12年（平均4.72年）内达到细菌学阴性，并接受了19至43年（细菌学阴性后的中位随访期为18年）的随访。在这131例患者中，检测到36例复发，第一例在细菌学阴性后4年出现，最后一例在26年后出现。粗复发率为27.5%，复发风险为每100患者年1.39，使用生命表法计算的累积复发概率在研究的第31年达到0.38±11。从这些发现可以推断，至少在法属波利尼西亚，接受氨苯砜单药治疗的多菌型患者中，三分之一到二分之一如果在细菌学阴性36年后仍存活，将会复发。这些结果再次强调了按照世界卫生组织的建议对麻风病患者采用多药疗法进行治疗的必要性。
