title: Lepromatous leprosy treated with recombinant interferon gamma: cutaneous histologic changes.
abstract: We report on the histologic changes occurring in single cutaneous lesions, from six active lepromatous patients, 1 week following the administration of three daily intradermal injections, 35 micrograms each, of recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma). Except for a strong induration at the injection site, rIFN-gamma produced no adverse systemic reactions and was able to promote a remarkable influx of T-lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes with large nuclei, nonvacuolated cytoplasm, and reduced lysozyme reactivity. Furthermore, despite no clear-cut reduction of mycobacterial dermal burden, bacilli showed a clear increase in the granular appearance. Present findings provide a basis for further elucidation of rIFN-gamma as an additional tool for leprosy treatment.
authors.affiliation: División Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bottasso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Besuschio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernabo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Falcoff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falcoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma