Steroid therapy in the management of reactions in leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List, December 2nd, 2008

Ref.: Steroid therapy in the management of reactions in leprosy (see attachment 1 & attachment 2)
From: Naafs B., Bauru, SP, Brazil


Dear Salvatore,

I agree fully with you (LML Nov. 30th, 2008) that there is NO EVIDENCE at all, for the 3-month steroid treatment. It is too short for quite a number of patients. Many patients deteriorate after the cessation of the 3 month treatment. Unluckily for them often the damage is silent. I had hoped that after my papers, which are enclosed (attachment 1, attachment 2 - in PDF), people would come to their senses. I am of the opinion that to continue the 3 month advice is unscientific and would not hold in any court.

I think it is near criminal to neglect the accumulated evidence against only 3 month of treatment in Type I reaction, where it invites problems when you use it in Type 2 reactions.
Why do WHO "experts" not listen to patients and their doctors and do not realise that leprosy is a spectral disease and moreover that leprosy in one geographical area is not that in another and that just looking at the Bangladesh trials is short-sighted and biased.Greetings from Brazil,

Ben Naafs