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ePaper created 2014-09-15, 12:31:02 | version 1.32.01
Research on leprosy Bernard Naafs From the 1970s onwards, the Netherlands became a center for leprosy research, thanks to Dick Leiker. He recruited Ben Naafs (1943) in the early 1970s to conduct leprosy research in Africa. Naafs spent 5 years in Ethiopia at ALERT/AHRI, at that time one of the major leprosy and immunology research centers. He was trained there by John Pearson and Ross St Clair Barnetson in dermatology/leprology and immunology. He introduced proper follow-up of the treatment of leprosy reaction by graded sensory testing and Motor Nerve Conduction measurements. Naafs returned to The Netherlands in 1979 and started his training in dermato-venereology at the University of Amsterdam’s Department of Dermatology under Rudi Cormane. During his residency he received his PhD degree with a thesis entitled Prevention of permanent nerve damage in leprosy. Together with William Faber, he also wrote frequently cited articles on Thalidomide in dermatology.[1,2] After completing his residency, he left again for the tropics in 1983, this time to Zimbabwe. He became head of the first leprosy programme that “eliminated” the disease. Alongside his clinical/epidemiological work, he continued with his research before returning to The Netherlands in 1986. He was appointed head of the outpatient depart- ment of dermatology at Dijkzigt, the Erasmus University Teaching Hospital in Rotterdam. There, he continued his leprosy research, particularly with Roël Chin-A-Lien, and in co-operation with Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam. The focus of research at the time was on autoimmunity in leprosy, an area which seemed to have been neglected for years, but which had recently undergone a resurgence of interest. He remained in Rotterdam for 10 years. In 1996 he published an article that is still considered the standard work for treatment of leprosy reactions.[3,4] For the past 15 years he has divided his time between The Netherlands, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Brazil. Chief among his achievements in recent years has been the writing of dermatology books for developing countries. The book written with Colette van Hees, is probably the dermatology work most referred to in Africa.[5] Ben Naafs continues to guide young dermatologists in developing countries. References 1. Naafs B, Bakkers EJM, Flinterman J, Faber WR. Thalidomide treatment of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Br J Dermatol 1982; 107: 83-6. 2. Naafs B, Faber WR. Thalidomide therapy. An open trial. Int J Dermatol 1985; 24: 131-4. 3. Naafs B. Leprosy reactions. New Knowledge. Trop Geogr Med 1994; 46: 80-4. 163 Reversal reaction in leprosy patient. Courtesy RDTC. BWEADVSMGFINCORR:Opmaak 1 21-07-2014 17:41 Pagina 163