title: Histological changes with combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy in highly bacillated lepromatous leprosy.
abstract: Highly bacillated untreated lepromatous cases with an initial BI 4+ of to 6+ were treated with combined multidrug treatment (MDT) and immunotherapy with heat killed Mycobacterium w or BCG. The vaccines were administered intradermally every six months. It was observed that majority of cases on immunotherapy showed increased lymphocytic infiltration (both at local and distant sites) and some cases showed epithelioid cells as well. The lymphocytic infiltration was (slightly) more vigorous in those vaccinated with Mycobacterium w. Such changes were not seen in the patients on MDT alone. Also, the granuloma fraction reduced much faster in cases who were on additional immunotherapy as compared to those on MDT alone. These changes along with evidence of clinical and bacteriological improvements suggest that immunotherapy may have an important supportive role specially in the therapy of anergic lepromatous cases.
authors.affiliation: Central JALMA Institute for Leprosy (ICMR), Tajganj, Agra, U.P., India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katoch
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bagga
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Katoch
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated