Leprosy
Mailing List, December 2nd, 2008
Ref.: Steroid
therapy in the management of reactions in leprosy.
From: van Brakel W. H.,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dear
Salvatore,
I would like
to respond to Prof. Kar's plea (LML Nov. 30th, 2008) for a
multi-centre trial to determine an optimal steroid regimen. I fully agree. In fact, a proposal for such a
study, called the TENLEP Trials (Treatment of Early Neuropathy in
Leprosy), was submitted to four funding organisations in August. This
collaborative project combines the efforts of some 10 research centres
in 6 countries. The study combines two trials, one to test to
prognostic benefit of treating sub-clinical neuropathy detected a
diagnosis and the other to find an optimal duration and dosage for
steroid treatment of clinical nerve damage of recent onset occurring
as part of a Type 1 or 2 reaction or silent neuropathy.
Unfortunately,
it appears that the urgency for such a study is not acknowledged
everywhere. We have not been able to find sufficient funds to start
these trials in 2009. If anyone knows of other funding sources
interested to support this research, we would be very happy to hear
from them!
With friendly
greetings,
Wim van
Brakel
Reply email address: w.v.brakel
(at) kit.nl
Wim H. van Brakel
KIT Leprosy Unit
Wibautstraat 137J
1097DN
Amsterdam
Netherlands
+3120 6939297
www.kit.nl
