These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: A follow up of T-cell subsets and of anti-M. leprae antibody titer as measured by the FLA-ABS test in Melanesian leprosy patients under polychemotherapy.
    Author: Garraud O, Ribierre O, Bach MA.
    Journal: Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis; 1986 Mar; 54(1):38-45. PubMed ID: 2940306.
    Abstract:
    Melanesian leprosy patients from New Caledonia were studied for the following parameters during the course of polychemotherapy: peripheral blood T-cell subsets, as identified in an immunofluorescence assay with monoclonal antibodies OKT3 ("pan-T"), OKT4 ("helper/inducer"), and OKT8 ("cytotoxic-suppressor"), and anti-Mycobacterium leprae antibodies in the serum, as measured by the fluorescent leprosy antibody absorption test. A group of Melanesian healthy subjects with no known exposure to M. leprae served as controls. Healthy contacts of leprosy patients were also studied for the presence of anti-M. leprae antibodies. Untreated, nonreactional lepromatous patients displayed moderate but significant T-cell abnormalities, consisting of a decrease in the percentage of OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells with a decrease in the OKT4:OKT8 ratio. These abnormalities disappeared within nine months of treatment. A transient decrease in the percentage of OKT8+ cells with an increase in the OKT4:OKT8 ratio was seen in patients suffering erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). Tuberculoid patients, whether treated or not, did not show any T-cell marker disturbances. Positive serological tests for anti-M. leprae antibodies were found in 100% of lepromatous patients, 92% of tuberculoid patients, and 56% of healthy contacts. No significant decline in the antibody titer was observed with treatment during the survey period.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]