01634nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653001600066653002500082100001600107700001600123700001500139245005500154856005900209300001200268490000700280050003200287520108300319022001401402       1993                            d  c1993 Dec10aHumans10aLactoferrin10aLeprosy, lepromatous1 aParkash O M1 aGirdhar B K1 aSengupta U00aSerum lactoferrin in lepromatous leprosy patients.  uhttp://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/1993/v64n4/pdf/v64n4a02.pdf  a295-3010 v64  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>The serum concentrations of lactoferrin were determined by competitive enzyme immunoassay in the sera of 38 lepromatous leprosy patients and 16 healthy volunteers. Of the 38 lepromatous patients, 25 were without any sign of reactions while 13 were suffering from ENL type of reactions. The lactoferrin levels, in both types of patients, were observed to be significantly higher (P < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively) than in that of healthy volunteers. The rise in lactoferrin level in reactive patients was also higher (P < 0.05) when compared to those without reactions. The serum lactoferrin levels were also found to be associated with bacterial load (r = 0.414; P < 0.01) indicating that in lepromatous leprosy patients, lactoferrin may not be very effective in preventing the growth of Mycobacterium leprae. Further studies to improve the understanding of the role of elevated levels of lactoferrin in pathogenesis of lepromatous leprosy patients and in establishing its possible use in predicting the occurrence of ENL type of reactions would be worthwhile pursuing.</p>  a0305-7518