A longitudinal study of immunologic reactivity in leprosy patients treated with immunotherapy

Abstract

In this study, we have evaluated the response of patients submitted to immunotherapy (IMT) with this combined vaccine together with multidrug therapy (MDT) during a 5- to lO-year period. Based on the use of multiple criteria, we have been able to analyze the diverse manifestations ofthe immune responses in these patients, most of whom had multibacillary disease. The parameters evaluated included determinations ofthe levels ofantibodies against PGLI, lymphocyte transformation assays, bacterial indexes and intradermal tests before each IMT treatment and at regular intervals for a period of at least 5 years.