A challenging case of borderline lepromatous leprosy non-responsive to WHO-MDT: exploring approaches beyond WHO-MDT

Abstract

Just as we prioritize personalized medicine for various other medical conditions, we should also include a neglected disease like leprosy, ensuring that patients receive the best care possible and improving their quality of life. Our case highlights the importance of instituting an alternate therapeutic regimen in a scenario where there is a lack of clinical response to multidrug therapy, even in the absence of documented drug resistance of the currently available molecular diagnostics. The search for the perfect regimen tailored for each individual leprosy patient should continue. Alternate anti-leprosy therapy is highly useful in cases with confirmed drug resistance or clinically non-responsive cases; however, their misuse should also be strictly avoided to prevent the development of resistance to them.