Influence of sulphone therapy on lepromin reaction

Abstract

Sulphones administered in different doses were found to have a modulating effect on lepromin response in TT and BT cases. Twenty-six cases of TT and BT leprosy were initially lepromin tested and included in the study. Eight cases were given orally 100 mg dapsone per day and nine cases were administered a single injection of acedapsone 225 mg. After 4 weeks all cases were retested with lepromin. The treatment was subsequently reversed so that the patients who received acedapsone earlier were placed on dapsone and those who had dapsone earlier were administered acedapsone. After a further 4 weeks the lepromin tests were again repeated. It was found that skin reaction to lepromin was significantly enhanced by small doses of sulphone and was depressed, although not significantly, by larger doses. Therefore, dapsone in full therapeutic doses may be usefully employed from the beginning in TT and BT cases with due care. It is also hypothesized that chemoprophylaxis with acedapsone might possibly enhance CMI against leprosy if already present.