EXPLORATION OF HEPATIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING OR HAVING UNDERGONEANTI-LEPROSY TREATMENT AT OUIDAH (BENIN); WEST AFRICA

Leprosy is a contagious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Hansen's bacillus. This bacterium has a special affinity for the skin and peripheral nerves. Known since antiquity, this disease is still a public health problem in many countries around the world. However, much progress has been< made in the fight against leprosy, including the advent of Multidrug Therapy (MDT) in 1982 for all leprosy patients. Benin and many African countries are in the process of eliminating the disease and MDT is available in all countries. Multidrug therapy has truly revolutionized leprosy control. The aim of our work is to see the impact of MDT on liver function in leprosy patients undergoing treatment and those who have finished treatment. In order to do this we took 80 lepers (those
who had finished treatment and those who were in the process of treatment) to whom we made each one:
• The ASAT/ALAT transaminase assay
• The gamma-glutamyltransferase assay
This work represents the first extensive study of the impact of anti-leprosy drugs on liver function. It will be of great use to researchers in creating drugs that are less toxic to hepatocytes