01376nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001100065653001100076653001700087653002000104653001100124653001000135653002100145653001200166653004300178653003400221100001200255700001300267700001500280245003000295300001100325490000700336520072900343022001401072       1993                            d  c1993 Apr10aAdult10aBrazil10aFemale10aHLA Antigens10aHLA-DR Antigens10aHumans10aJapan10aLangerhans Cells10aleprosy10aReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta10aT-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer1 aIshii N1 aSugita Y1 aNakajima H00aTwo sisters with leprosy.  a226-300 v203 a<p>Leprosy is a rare entity in Japan, but remains quite common in developing countries. We report two sisters with leprosy from Brazil but currently working in Japan who presented to our clinic. The younger sister was infected with the BB type with HLA-A2, A24, B51, Bw52, DR2, DRw8, DRw52, DQw1, and DQw3. The elder sister had the TT type with HLA-A2, A31, B51, Cw3, DRw6, DRw8, DRw52, DQw1, and DQw3. Immunohistochemical findings revealed that CD4+, 4B4+ helper/inducer T-cells were dominant in the granulomas of both cases. Bacilli were not detectable in the biopsy specimens. However, Mycobacterium leprae-specific DNA fragments were found in their peripheral blood and biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction.</p>  a0385-2407