Immunology and the Therapeutics of Leprosy
Authors: WARD E. BULLOCK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

Editorials1 September 1979Immunology and the Therapeutics of LeprosyWARD E. BULLOCK, M.D.WARD E. BULLOCK, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-91-3-482 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn infections caused by facultative or obligate intracellular microorganisms, anergy (loss of allergic response) is generally recognized as an ominous signal of the host's dwindling capacity to limit multiplication of the pathogen. This phenomenon is perhaps no better illustrated than in leprosy, still a serious problem worldwide for more than 12 million people. Anergy is observed most consistently in persons with lepromatous leprosy who typically are infected by an enormous number of bacilli, up to 1012. These persons consistently fail to manifest delayed-type hypersensitivity to intradermal challenge with antigens ofMycobacterium leprae. In addition, many of those with lepromatous disease...References1. BULLOCK W. Leprosy: a model of immunological perturbation in chronic infection. J Infect Dis. 1978;137:341-54. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. GERSHON R. T-Cell control of antibody production. Contemp Top Immunobiol. 1973;3:1-40. Google Scholar3. WALDMANBRODER TS. Suppressor cells in the regulation of the immune response. Prog Clin Immunol. 1977;3:155-99. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. BULLOCKCARLSONGERSHON WER. The evolution of immunosuppressive cell populations in experimental mycobacterial infection. J Immunol. 1978;120:1709-16. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. HASTINGSJOB RC. Reversal reactions in lepromatous leprosy following transfer factor therapy. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1978;27:995-1004. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. LIMFUSAROGOOD SRR. Leprosy: VI. The treatment of leprosy patients with intravenous infusions of leukocytes from normal persons. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1972;1:122-39. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. LOWEMCNULTY JF. The effect of BCG in lepromatous cases of leprosy. Int J Lepr. 1953;21:173-7. MedlineGoogle Scholar8. NATHNARAYANANMEHRASHARMAGUPTE IRNAM. Suppressor cells in human leprosy. Mexico City: XI International Leprosy Congress; 13-18 November 1978:77. Abstract. Google Scholar9. MEHRABLOOMMASONFIELDS VBLJ. Studies on Mycobacterium leprae-induced suppression of in vitro responses in leprosy patients. Mexico City: XI International Leprosy Congress; 13-18 November 1978:59 Abstract. Google Scholar10. KIRCHHEIMERSTORRS WE. Attempts to establish the armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus Linn.) as a model for the study of leprosy: I. Report of lepromatoid leprosy in an experimentally infected armadillo. Int J Lepr. 1971;39:693-702. Google Scholar11. HARBOECLOSSBJUNEKRONVALLAXELSEN MOGGN. Mycobacterium leprae specific antibodies detected by radioimmunoassay. Scand J Immunol. 1978;7:111-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. CALDWELLKIRCHHEIMERBUCHANAN HWT. Identification of a Mycobacterium leprae specific protein antigen and its possible application for the serodiagnosis of leprosy. Int J Lepr. 1979. In press. Google Scholar13. ABEIZUMISAITOMATHUR MSTS. Early serodiagnosis of leprosy by indirect immunofluorescence. Lepr India. 1976;48:272-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar14. PEARSONREESWATERS JRM. Sulphone resistance in leprosy: a review of one hundred proven clinical cases. Lancet. 1975;2:6972. Google Scholar15. REESWATERSPEARSONHELMYLAING RMJHA. Long-term treatment of dapsone-resistant leprosy with rifampicin: clinical and bacteriological studies. Int J Lepr. 1976;44:159-69. Google Scholar16. NOORDEEN S. Relapse in lepromatous leprosy. Lepr Rev. 1971;42:438. Google Scholar17. MEHRABLOOM VB. The induction of cell-mediated immunity to Mycobacterium leprae in the guinea pigs. Infect Immun. 1979;23:787-94. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. TUNGKIMBJORVATNKRONVALLMCLARENWILLIAMS KBBGLR. Discrepancy between CIq deviation and raji cell tests in detection of circulating immune complexes in patients with leprosy. J Infect Dis. 1977;136:216-21. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Department of Medicine University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, Kentucky PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByImmunology of Mycobacterial InfectionsTuberculosisLeprosy, an OverviewLeprosy (Hansen’s Disease)“Pro-eu-karyote” graft acceptance: A mechanism for intracellular parasitism — A new hypothesis for pathogenesis of leprosyThe Immunology of Mycobacterial Infections 1 September 1979Volume 91, Issue 3Page: 482-484KeywordsAllergy and immunologyAnergyAntigensHypersensitivityImmunologyInfectious diseasesIntracellular pathogensLeprosyMedical services Issue Published: 1 September 1979 PDF DownloadLoading ...