Abstract
In the present study, investigations were made on the dispositions to recurrence of lepromatous leprosy from the view points of the living body, the causes observed from the effects of various antileprous drugs and treatments for recurrence.
The objects were patients who had been admitted before 1951. As for recurrence only the patients, in whom the disease had been exacerbated after 1953, were chosen.
The observed items were sex, age, age at the onset, duraion of the disease, extent of exanthemata, condition of the exanthemata, Hansen's bacilli, ENL and lepromin reaction. The dispositions of the living body were investigated through calculation of the recurrence rate of each of these items.
Investigations were also made in the patients to whom promin treatments had been given before and after the recurrence. And throughout the recurrence, the causes of the recurrence was depended to whether the dose of the medicine was too small, were studied. And simultaneously it was investigated that the patient might obtain resistance to the medicine even when the necessary dose was small.
Furthermore, considerations were made on treatment for the recurrence whether the samed typed medicines which had previously used before the recurrence should be applied or a different typed medicines should be used.
Results
1) The recurrence had no relation with sex, age at onset, duration of the disease and extent of the exanthemata. It was more often noted in those under the age of 39 and less in those above 40. It was also more often observed in the regressive period of the exanthemata than in the stationary period. It was also more frequently noted in the period of ENL appearance than in the period when ENL was not observed. And it was more frequently observed when Hansen's bacilli were positive than when they were negative, and also the similar relationship was noted when lepromin reaction was negative than positive.
In short, the recurrence was often noted in the unstable living body when Hansen's bacilli remained.
2) The targets of completion of treatments for lepromatous leprosy were negativeness of Hansen's bacilli and positiveness of lepromin reaction.
3) Many of the patients, in whom the disease was exacerbated, had obtained resistance to medicine.
4) In regard to treatments for the recurrence, different typed medicine; medicines which were not familiar to the patient should be used.
