02620nas a2200469   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001600080653000900096653002200105653001500127653001000142653001600152653001200168653003000180653001500210653001100225653001100236653002100247653003800268653002300306653001200329653000900341653001600350653002500366653001300391653001800404653002200422100001400444700001800458700001300476700001200489700001500501245005100516856004100567300001000608490000700618520151100625022001402136       1999                            d  c1999 Mar10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Factors10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aBiomarkers10aChild10aClofazimine10aDapsone10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aE-Selectin10aFemale10aHumans10aImmunoglobulin G10aIntercellular Adhesion Molecule-110aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aRifampin10aSerum Albumin10aTreatment Outcome1 aMacLean S1 aStietenroth K1 aPrange H1 aPai V V1 aGanapati R00aSerum markers of treatment success in leprosy.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v67n1a04.pdf  a19-230 v673 a<p><b>UNLABELLED: </b>Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin and other variables were evaluated as possible markers of the success of multidrug therapy (MDT) in leprosy. Multibacillary (MB, N = 45) and paucibacillary (PB, N = 29) leprosy patients were examined during MDT, which typically lasted 12 months for MB and 6 months for PB patients. Serum values for total protein, albumin, immunoglobulin gamma (IgG), ICAM-1, and E-selectin (selectin) were recorded, as were lesion type, number, and distribution. Response at the end of therapy was assessed as good, fair, or poor. The bacterial index (BI) of lesions was measured at the beginning and end of therapy. The earlier reported findings of this investigation are herein re-examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>age and lowered serum albumin correlated with the poorer condition of the patients, as did elevated selectin. Albumin was inversely correlated with the BI (p = 0.008) in MB patients, and IgG was positively correlated (p = 0.009). ICAM and E-selectin alone were not useful markers of individual patient condition. A regression combining serum albumin under 41 g/l, age and E-selectin was able to identify 85% of the patients in poorer condition.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>serum albumin was a useful nonspecific marker of both patient condition and infection. Age is an important negative factor in patient response. Albumin and IgG correlate with the BI and with each other (p = 0.011) in MB patients, but not in PB patients.</p>  a0148-916X