Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) necessitating modification of multi-drug therapy (MDT) in Hansens disease: a retrospective study from Kerala, India

Abstract

Objective: To assess the frequency and type of adverse drug reactions (ADR) that necessitated modification of multi-drug therapy (MDT) in Hansen’s disease, with emphasis to find out the interval between initiation of MDT and the occurrence of ADR.

Design: A retrospective analysis of case records of patients diagnosed with Hansen’s disease (HD) and registered for MDT in a tertiary care institution between 2010 and 2015. Clinical details and laboratory data were collected using a proforma.

Results: One hundred and ninety-six patients were registered for treatment during the study period. We analysed 150 records that met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-six among them (24%) had ADR that needed modification of MDT. The most common ADR was haemolytic anemia (19 patients; 12.7%) followed by hepatitis (14 patients; 9.3%). The most serious ADR was agranulocytosis (three patients; 2%). Adverse effects were more common (72%) during the initial 2 months of MDT compared to later months. (P = 0.004).