Positive lepromin reactions with suspensions of normal tissue particles

ABSTRACT

1- Positive early and "lepromin" reactions have been obtained with suspensions of normal skin and of normal liver particles in patients with tuberculoid leprosy. These suspensions gave negative results in patients with lepromatous leprosy. 2- The results of the experiments support the hypothesis that in the Mitsuda reaction we are dealing with a foreign-body reaction. 3- Besides the particles of normal tissue, the leprosy bacilli may also act as foreign bodies, due to the fact that they are not broken down readily. 4- If the assumption is correct that the Mitsuda reaction is a foreign- body reaction, then it is incorrect to attempt to prove any immunological relationship between leprosy and tuberculosis by means of this reaction. 5- Active lepromin was also prepared from lepromatous liver and spleen.