Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced transformation of peripheral blood-lymphocytes in leprosy patients

101 patients belonging to different types of leprosy were investigated for PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation in peripheral blood. There was a significant depression (P < 0.05) in blastogenesis in borderline (BB), borderline lepromatous (BL) and lepromatous (LL) patients. On the other hand, tuberculoid (TT) and borderline tuberculoid (BT) patients did not show any alteration in PHA-induced blastogenesis (P > 0.05) when compared to normal. The significance of these findings have been discussed.