Immunotherapy of Leprosy (2nd report) Study on the Therapy by means of Injection of Transfer Factor

• Published in: Japanese journal of leprosy Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 190 - 196
• Main Authors: OKADA, SEITARO, IZUMI, SHINZO, SUGIYAMA, KAZUKO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Japanese Leprosy Association 01.10.1980
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Leprosy - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Transfer Factor - administration & dosage; Transfer Factor - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0386-3980; 2185-1360
• DOI: 10.5025/hansen1977.49.190

Four cases with leprosy were treated with immunotherapy by means of injection of transfer factor (TF). In the first case, BI reached the level of 1 in 1975, which thereafter continued for three years despite of continuation of chemotherapy. And this case was treated with the transfusion of leucocytes. The immunotherapy by means of injection of TF started nine weeks after the termination of transfusion of leucocytes. Also in the next case, the number of leprosy bacilli decreased to a small number by chemotherapy, but could not reach the negetivity despite of continuation of chemotherapy. In the other two cases, the injection of TF started at the stadium in which the number of leprosy bacilli decreased to middle grade by chemotherapy. The type of eprosy was BL in three cases, and LL/BL in a case. TF was extracted from the leucocytes of normal healthy adults. One vial of TF was injected once or twice weekly, or two vials of TF were injected once weekly. The total number of times of injection of TF is 25 in the first case, and 31 in the 2 nd case. And the total amount of TF is 38 vials in the first case, and 45 vials in the 2 nd case. In the other 2 cases, the number of times was 16 and 13 respectively, and the total amount was 16 vials and 13 vials respectively. The reversal reaction did not occur in every cases. The tendency of decrease of number of leprosy bacilli was somewhat observed in the first 2 cases, but not observed in the other 2 cases. In a case of first two cases, the number of T-cell increased a little.The function of lymphocytes did not change by the injection of TF. The lepromin reaction of first two cases was examined. In a case, the marked but temporarily positive Fernandez reaction occurred, and the Mitsuda reaction changed from negative to doubtful reation. But despite of the injection of TF made many times, clearly positive Mitsuda reaction did not occur. The amount of immunoglobulin and complement did notchange. Judging from the data obtained from this study, big hope cannot be placed on TF.