Is erythema nodosum leprosum a favorable occurrence?

ABSTRACT

1- The average period of treatment until the disease could be declared arrested, in these cases in which that came about, was 57 months in the 23 patients without ENL, but 72 months in the 74 such patients with ENL. Statistically this difference in time is highly significant. There were more of these arrested patients with ENL than without it. 2- The average bacteriological index of the whole lot of ENL cases (200 patients) was higher than that of the whole group without ENL (142 patients), and the time required for the elimination of the bacilli was longer for the ENL group. 3- A mild degree of ENL retarded the arrest of the disease as much as did a severe degree of the condition. 4- The incidence of ENL increased with the duration of the disease. 5- There seems to be no great differences in occurrence of ENL among the various treatment groups (diasone, DDS, streptomycin, PAS, INH). 6- ENL is not a reaction to the drug treatment alone, as it does not occur in nonlepromatous cases under type of treatment. 7- ENL is not a favorable sign.