The kinetics of cellular immunity responses to PGL-1, a specific antigen of Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy patient treated by multichemotherapy

33 loprosis patients (12 females, 21 males) aged 12-47, were divided into 2 groups: a group of many bacteria (MB) and other group of few bacteria (FB). Many bacteria were divided into subgroup with reaction (MB+R) and subgroup without reaction (MB-R) to PGL-1 antigene. In first stage of treatment, the reaction of transformation of MB-R raised higher than MB+R, reduced gradually to the 9th month, then raised to 21st month, and reduced again. The few bacteria group had no responding to this antigene. The response is similar with the response to crushed M leprae antigene and ND-BSA