@article{10296,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Antibodies, Bacterial, Child, Clofazimine, Dapsone, Drug Therapy, Combination, Erythema Nodosum, Ethionamide, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Humans, leprosy, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium leprae, New Caledonia, Rifampin, T-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory},
  author = {Garraud O and Ribierre O and Bach M A},
  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.},
  abstract = {<p>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.</p>},
  year = {1986},
  journal = {International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association},
  volume = {54},
  pages = {38-45},
  month = {1986 Mar},
  issn = {0148-916X},
  url = {http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v54n1a06.pdf},
  language = {eng},
}