Abstract: In order to evaluate the therapeutic effects of multidrug therapy (MDT) on multibacillary leprosy patients,the change of bacteriological index in 457 multibacilary leprosy patients on MDT was studied.The results showed that the patients previously treated with dapsone(DDS)alone,patients relapsed after DDS monotherapy and newly diagnosed patients with BI≥3.0 before MDT,60 months after MDT,the acumulative rates of BI negativity were 86.4%,63.8% and 81.6% respectively.There were 67 cases(10.4%) and 4 cases (0.7%) developed leprosy reaction in the period of MDT and folowing up,respectively.Five hundred and fifty cases were folowed up for 1～8 years,a total of 2520 patient-years,and one patient relapsed at the third year after stopping of MDT.The authors consider that it is necesary to folow up the patients after completion of MDT,for the early diagnosis ofreversal reaction and relapse.

Key words: Leprosy, Drug therapy,combination