抄録
The total lipid, cholesterol and phosphatide contents of the upper leg muscle, cervical lymphnode and sciatic nerve, excised at aut10opsy of leprosy cases, were measured and the values compared to those of normal controls (accidental death). The total, lipid, cholesterol and phosphatide levels of the serum of leprosy patients were also measured. The choleste- rol content of the serum of leprosy is lower than in the normal healthy individual, but there
is no difference in the total lipid and phosphatide levels. The cholesterol/total lipid, phosphatide/total lipid and cholesterol/phosphatide ratios however, are lower than the normal. The former two, moreover, are not altered by long term administration of liver protecting agents and can be assumed to be due to leprosy itself whereas the latter shows a rise on recovery of normal liver function showing that it is a secondary phenomenon.
The marked changes in lipid content of the tissues and organs in murine leprosy have already been reported. These findings suggest that a general metabolic disturbance takes place in the host on infection with the leprosy bacilli.
