A Study on Peripheral Blood T and B Lymphocytes in Leprosy.

In leprosy, it is generally believed that the defense against Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is largely dependent on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and there is an accumulating evidence that the patients with lepromatous leprosy have not only defective CMI specific for M. leprae, but also have generalized impairment of CMI. In contrast, the humoral immune reactivity, both specific and nonspecific, have been found to be normal or slightly increased. Recently, several investigators have enumerated the peripheral blood T and B lympocytes in patients with leprosy; however, there is no agreement as to the results. Furthermore, leprosy has been found to differ in its clinicai manifestations and immunological behaviors in different geographic areas and races. Nevertheless, there is yet no report in Korea concerning the T and B lymphocyte enumeration. The authors considered it is necessary to enumerate the peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes in Korean patients with leprosy to evaluate the immune status and the differences in the immunologic reactivity between the lepromatous and the tuberculoid spectrum of leprosy.