Leprosy: New insight into an ancient disease - 06/10/17
Résumé |
Patients with leprosy may be classified into two clinical and histopathologic categories. At one end of the spectrum, patients with tuberculoid leprosy have few skin lesions in which organisms can rarely be identified. At the other end of the spectrum, patients with lepromatous leprosy have numerous skin lesions containing myriad bacilli. Because immunologic resistance is associated with this spectrum, the study of leprosy provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into immunoregulatory mechanisms in man. In addition, serodiagnosis to identify early cases and prevention by vaccination are areas of active research. For patient care, a network of Regional Hansen's Disease Centers has been established under the sponsorship of the National Program for Hansen's Disease, Carville, LA. Because the patients are often poor, their receipt of care and medication without cost helps to ameliorate at least one of the burdens imposed by this potentially devastating illness. The program central office may be called at 800-642-2477.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.† | The CME articles are made possible through an educational grant from Syntex Laboratories,Inc. |
‡ | Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI 22187 and 22553), the UNDP/World Bank/World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (IMMLEP), National Hansen's Disease Center, Knights of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, Heiser Trust, and the Hartford Foundation. |
Vol 17 - N° 1
P. 1-13 - juillet 1987 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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