Study 1A: Ciclosporin in the management of new Type 1 Reactions in Leprosy

Objective: A randomised double blind controlled trial comparing Ciclosporin and Prednisolone,to determine whether treatment with Ciclosporin gives the same outcome in the treatment of new Type 1 Reactions as Prednisolone.

We tested our hypothesis that ciclosporin would be as effective as prednisolone in the treatment of patients with leprosy reactions and nerve function impairment and that patients treated with ciclosporin would have fewer side effects than patients treated with prednisolone. A randomised controlled trial comparing ciclosporin and prednisolone in the treatment of acute leprosy T1R was conducted.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with clinical evidence of T1R with new nerve function impairment (NFI).
• Aged 18-65
• Weigh more than 30Kg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwillingness to give informed consent
• Patients with severe active infections such as tuberculosis
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women (see Appendix II)
• Those with renal failure, abnormal renal function, hypertensive
• Patients taking thalidomide currently or within the last 3 months
• Patients not willing to return for follow-up
• Women of reproductive age not willing to use contraception for the duration of the study ( see Appendix II)
• HIV positive patients