ABSTRACT
1), attributable risk (AR)=13.33%; ⑤Even though the serum specimens were taken from PB patients, the Ab of majouity of patients converted to positive when relapse occurred. In the majority of patients relapsed the levels of IgM-AbL tended to be increasing or pesistently positive. Usually relapse occurred 1-2 years after IgM-AbL was converted to positive. Relapse occurred 11-30 years after the patients were cured. In very rare case downgrading(from tuberculous to borderline leprosy) occurred. ⑥The levels of IgM-AbL gradually decreased in all relapsed patients after effective treatment except one case whose IgM-AbL was persistently positive. Conclusions The above results indicate that the ND-ELISA might be useful in screening early M.leprae infection and in predicting and monitoring the relapse of leprosy, especially in multibacillary patients.