The relationship of the latex fixation test to the clinical and serologic manifestations of leprosy / ?

Forty-four positive reactions to the latex fixation tests were obtained in the serum of 101 leprosy patients, twenty-four using the euglobulin fraction. The result of the sheep cell agglutination test was positive in fourteen of ninety-five of the same serum samples. Serologic studies suggest that the agglutinating factors in serum from patients with leprosy are similar if not identical to the so-called rheumatoid factors. Duration, type of course and severity of leprosy appear to be unrelated to the presence of positive reactions to serologic tests. The incidence of other diseases found in association with leprosy has been recorded and their relationship to the latex fixation test and to the sheep cell agglutination test is discussed. From the results of this study, it is not possible to define the significance of rheumatoid factors in serum from patients with leprosy. It is concluded that they probably play a non-specific role with respect to the clinical course

Secondary amyloidosis in leprosy / ?

Secondary amyloidosis is the leading cause of death in lepromatous leprosy in this country. The mortality is directly caused by amyloid involvement of the kidneys, which occurred in 100% of this series. The diagnosis of this complication depends largely on the development of a persistent proteinuria, Congo red absorption, hepatosplenomegaly and, to a lesser degree, altered serum proteins and perhaps liver biopsy in selected cases. the correlation between the Congo red test and the degree of amyloidosis is poor, and unless this test shows 80 to 100% dye absorption in one hour the diagnosis cannot be made from this finding alone. Serum protein and lipoid changes occur in lepromatous leprosy per se, and in a study of the various protein fractions no consistent alteration occurred in cases complicated by amyloidosis. The average duration of life after the onset of proteinuria in amyloidosis was 38.33 months, with a fairly wide range above and below this figure. The development of anemia and a progressive elevation of the nonprotein nitrogen are unfavorable prognostic signs