TY - JOUR KW - Adolescent KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Antigens, Bacterial KW - Child KW - Follow-Up Studies KW - Humans KW - Interferon-gamma KW - leprosy KW - Longitudinal studies KW - Middle Aged KW - Mycobacterium bovis KW - Mycobacterium leprae KW - Risk Factors KW - Skin Tests AU - Sampaio E P AU - Moreira A L AU - Kaplan G AU - Alvim M F AU - Duppre N C AU - Miranda C F AU - Sarno E N AB -

Identification of individuals at risk for developing leprosy and their early diagnosis are central to effective disease control. Lack of immunologic response to Mycobacterium leprae among persons exposed to the infectious agent may be predictive of susceptibility. M. leprae-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was used as a measure of immune responsiveness. Household contacts of multibacillary patients likely to be at risk of developing active disease were identified, and a preliminary analysis after 2 years of follow-up is presented. A persistent in vitro negative response to M. leprae was present in 34.6% of the contacts, and a decrease in IFN-gamma production was noted in 52.5%. Five contacts (6.41%) developed leprosy during follow-up and, as predicted, belonged to the group of individuals who were negative or showed reduced levels of IFN-gamma in response to the antigen.

BT - The Journal of infectious diseases C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1940481?dopt=Abstract DA - 1991 Nov DO - 10.1093/infdis/164.5.990 IS - 5 J2 - J. Infect. Dis. LA - eng N2 -

Identification of individuals at risk for developing leprosy and their early diagnosis are central to effective disease control. Lack of immunologic response to Mycobacterium leprae among persons exposed to the infectious agent may be predictive of susceptibility. M. leprae-induced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was used as a measure of immune responsiveness. Household contacts of multibacillary patients likely to be at risk of developing active disease were identified, and a preliminary analysis after 2 years of follow-up is presented. A persistent in vitro negative response to M. leprae was present in 34.6% of the contacts, and a decrease in IFN-gamma production was noted in 52.5%. Five contacts (6.41%) developed leprosy during follow-up and, as predicted, belonged to the group of individuals who were negative or showed reduced levels of IFN-gamma in response to the antigen.

PY - 1991 SP - 990 EP - 3 T2 - The Journal of infectious diseases TI - Mycobacterium leprae-induced interferon-gamma production by household contacts of leprosy patients: association with the development of active disease. VL - 164 SN - 0022-1899 ER -