A study of serum fibrinolytic activity in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL)

Fibrinolytic activity was studied in 31 patients of leprosy and 10 healthy controls. Fibrinolytic activity was found to be significantly decreased in patients with erythema nodosum leprosum, compared to those with uncomplicated lepromatous leprosy, who in turn showed lowered activity compared to patients with tuberculoid form of leprosy and controls. The severity of ENL correlated very well with decrease in fibrinolytic activity. Fibrinolytic activity was improved to levels obtained in uncomplicated lepromatous leprosy after the subsidence of reaction. So it would seem reasonable to suggest that estimation of fibrinolytic activity provides a reliable criteria to quantitate the severity of erythema nodosum leprosum.