Clofazimine in ENL reaction

Leprosy Mailing List – August 29^th, 2010

Ref.: Clofazimine in ENL reaction

From: Ailton Santos Romero, Caruaru, Pernambuco , Brazil

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Dear Dr. Noto

Drugs currently used in the treatment of reactions in leprosy are: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and thalidomide. Thalidomide is the treatment of choice in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or type 2 reaction, except for women of child bearing age.

In our centre, prednisolone and thalidomide, in men only, are the drugs of choice in ENL. In the past in patients with relapsing and chronic ENL reaction we have also used a regimen containing clofazimine. We found it useful in cases of steroid dependent ENL. The doses of clofazimine that we used were:

300mg, the first month
200mg the second month
100mg in the third month
50mg in treatment continued until remission of the clinical picture.

Unfortunately loose clofazimine is currently not available in our country.

I would like asking the experience of colleagues about the use of such a regimen, particularly about the time of regression of the reaction using clofazimine. We had excellent results with clofazimine, do others confirm this?

Thank you very much in advance for your collaboration.

My sincere compliments,

Dr. Ailton Santos Romero

Reference Regional Medical Center
Leprosy and AIDS -
Health Department City of Caruaru
Pernambuco State

Brazil

Address:

Health Center , Amelia Bridges
Avenida Guararapes, S / N - Centre
City of Caruaru CEP 55000-000
Pernambuco State

Brazil