Immunologic aspects of lepromatous leprosy with special reference to the study of antibodies.

The role of immunity in leprosy has attracted great interest. Studies of immune mechanisms in patients with lepromatous leprosy. have indicated that these patients suffer not only from hyporeactive state of cell-mediated immune responses (20), but also from hyperreactivity of antibodymediated immune mechanisms (6). The latter findings are based on tests which include complement fixation, hemagglutination, electrophoresis, precipitation and immunofluorescence, together with a variety of antigens not from lepromas, but also from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other Actinomycetales. In view of these obs~r­ vations, a study of antibodies along With immunoglobulins and the rheumatoid factor has been undertaken in patients with lepromatous leprosy and the immunogenesis of the findings are discussed.