Leprosy reaction and immune reconstitution syndrome in Aids / Reação hansênica e síndrome de reconstituição imunológica na Aids

ABSTRACT

The authors report seven cases of borderline leprosyin AIDS patients whose presentation form was of a typeI reaction diagnosed soon HAART introduction, whichled to the discussion of the immunological aspects involved in the reaction to leprosy and the immune reconstitution syndrome. The patients were in frank AIDS-induced immune deterioration, which was the reason they met the criteria to initiate HAART treatment. It is likely that due to this fact, the amount of CD4 cells increased at the same time that a reduction of the viral load occurred, allowing the installation of a basically Th1 immunological profile. Therefore, the leprosy infection, which was dormant and unable to express itself was exteriorized in the form of a reverse reaction.