DETECTION OF A MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE CELL-WALL ANTIGEN IN THE URINE OFUNTREATED AND TREATED PATIENTS

A total of 90 leprosy patients, 12 household contacts and 10 normal su bjects were studied for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae cell wal l antigen in urine using monoclonal antibody (ML30A2 IgG). In untreate d multibacillary leprosy (BL-LL) the M. leprae cell wall antigen could be demonstrated in the urine of 14 (64%) patients by immunofluorescen ce (IF) and 22 (100%) by ELISA. In untreated paucibacillary leprosy (T T BT), it could be demonstrated in 3 (11.5%) and in 13 (50%) patients by IF and ELISA methods respectively. All but 1 household contact (lat er confirmed to have BL leprosy) and all 10 normal subjects' urine was negative for M. leprae cell wall antigen by both methods. The same an tigen was, however, demonstrated in urine of 50% paucibacillary patien ts who had received 6 months of treatment and in 68% multibacillary pa tients who had received 24 months of WHO recommended multidrug therapy . M. leprae cell wall antigen assays in urine will not be useful in th e follow-up of leprosy patients on multidrug therapy.