Immunologic responses in patients with lepromatous leprosy

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Lepromatous leprosy is a severe form of Mycobacterium leprae infection.
• Previous studies suggested generalized immunologic abnormalities in leprosy patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate immunologic responses in patients with lepromatous leprosy.
• To determine if immune abnormalities are a cause or consequence of the disease.

Main Methods:

• Assessed immune responses in 46 lepromatous leprosy patients.
• Compared responses to soluble intradermal antigens, contactant sensitization, T- and B-cell percentages, in vitro lymphocyte responses, and autoantibody prevalence against controls.

Main Results:

• Leprosy patients were indistinguishable from controls in all measured immunologic parameters.
• No significant differences were found in immune responses between patients and controls.

Conclusions:

• Generalized immunologic abnormalities are not predisposing factors or necessary accompaniments of lepromatous leprosy.
• These immune changes are likely remote sequelae (late consequences) of the illness.
• This suggests similar immune findings in other diseases may also be remote sequelae.