Liver function in leprosy

Thirty eight patients of leprosy were classified on the basis of clinical and biopsy findings into 10 lepromatous (all reactional), 20 tuberculoid (7 in reaction) and 8 dimorphic (5 in reaction). The liver function tests--serum proteins, albumin/globulin ratio, fractions in paper electrophoresis, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and thymol turbidity tests--and the serum cholesterol was estimated in each patient. The abnormalities were a reversal of the albumin/globulin ratio in all the three groups and an increase in beta/globulin fraction in the lepromatous group, but total proteins were within normal limits. The thymol turbidity test showed moderately elevated levels in all three groups. SGPT was slightly raised in a few cases. Only a single patient with tuberculoid leprosy showed serum cholesterol to be over 250 mg per 100 ml.