ADDITION OF IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH MYCOBACTERIUM-W VACCINE TO MULTIDRUG THERAPY BENEFITS MULTIBACILLARY LEPROSY PATIENTS

Immunotherapy with a vaccine consisting of autoclaved Mycobacterium w, was given in addition to standard chemotherapy (multidrug therapy (MD T)) to 93 multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients. One hundred and seven patients with similar types of disease served as controls and received MDT + placebo injections, The study was a double-blind randomised tri al. On opening the codes, results obtained were in concordance with th ose in a single-blind trial which has been extensively reported Bacter iological clearances were significantly more rapid in vaccinated patie nts (p<0.03). Thirty-Jive LL or BL patients with a high bacterial inde x (BI) of 6 were completely cleared of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) after e ight doses of vaccine. Only 8 patients in the control group became bac teriologically negative in the same time period. They all had BIs <4. Associated with decreasing BI was accelerated clinical regression of l esions after vaccination and lepromin conversion rates of 100% for BB, 71% for BL and 70% for LL. A significant number of immunised patients showed histological improvement (p<0.004). Thirty-six showed a comple te disappearance of dermal granulomas and a picture of non-specific in filtration. The vaccine did not precipitate pleuritis or deformities; episodes were noted in vaccinated patients as were incidences of Type 2 reaction, The overall improvement was reflected by a shorter duratio n of treatment and faster release of vaccinated patients.