Skin Tests for Evaluation of Cell Mediated Immunity in Leprosy

Cell-meate,d immune (CMI) response to lepromin and dinitrochloro benzene (DNCB) was evaluatt-d in 60 freshly detected leprosy cases. It was observed that 70%, ( 28 of 40 ) of the pa across tie leprosy spectrum except LL cases revealed delayed hypersensitivity to DNCB as -against 42.5% (1-7 of 40) to lepromin. DNCB test was found superior to lepromin test to measure CMI because of its simplicity and easy interpretation of skin reactivity. It detected CMI in 40% of BL cases who were lepromin negative. Grading of skin reactivity showed a program decrease in delayed hypersensitivity across the spectrum of leprosy from TT to LL. It can be concluded that there is no gross impairment of non-specific CMI in leprosy patients other than LL cases and this non-specific CMI depression correlates well with Ridley-Jopling clinical scale of leprosy.