Release of acid hydrolases by blood monocytes (BM) of leprosy patients both before and after 6 months of chemotherapy was measured fluorimetrically. Monocyte cultures were set up for spontaneous as well as zymosan dependent enzyme release measured after 2 hrs and 24 hrs of culture. In the untreated multibacillary group (BL/LL) a significantly higher (P < 0.001) release of both B-glucuronidase (BG) and N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG) was observed compared to the paucibacillary group (BT/TT) and healthy controls. On comparing the BT/TT group with controls a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in zymosan dependent NAG release was observed in the former group at 2 hrs culture. After 6 months of antileprosy therapy, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in BG release was observed from BM of multibacillary patients, whereas NAG activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the paucibacillary group compared to the controls. The results of the present study suggest that non-oxidative metabolic status of BM vary within the leprosy spectrum.

Department of Experimental Medicine Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India