01603nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002300055653001100078653001100089653002300100653001400123653001200137653001400149100001500163700001600178700001500194700001300209700001200222245012900234856004100363300001100404490000700415520088900422022001401311       1982                            d  c1982 Dec10aAntibody Formation10aFemale10aHumans10aImmunity, Cellular10aLactation10aleprosy10aPregnancy1 aDuncan M E1 aPearson J M1 aRidley D S1 aMelsom R1 aBjune G00aPregnancy and leprosy: the consequences of alterations of cell-mediated and humoral immunity during pregnancy and lactation.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v50n4a02.pdf  a425-350 v503 a<p>One hundred fourteen Ethiopian women with leprosy and 33 healthy women without leprosy were studied prospectively throughout 119 and 37 pregnancies, respectively, and followed up during lactation. Fifty-five women showed worsening of their leprosy status; in 31 (56%) this was observed during the third trimester of pregnancy. Forty women were diagnosed as having Type 1 lepra reaction; in 20 (50%) the first occurrence was during the first six months of lactation. Twenty-eight women had Type 2 lepra reaction, which in 19 (68%) first occurred during the third trimester of pregnancy or the first six months of lactation. These adverse effects of pregnancy on leprosy are thought to be associated with suppression of maternal cell-mediated immunity during gestation and recovery postpartum. Implications for the obstetrician, physician and leprosy health worker are discussed.</p>  a0148-916X