RESUMO
A study is reported of the lepromin test done with three different antigens: (1) the classical Mitsuda antigen prepared by Wade's method, (2) dharmendra's refined bacillary antigen, and (3) a variant of the latter designed to increase the number of late reactions produced by it. Observations were made of: (a) the immediate erythematous flare, (b) the early reaction read after both 24 and 48 hours and (c) the late reaction observed at weekly intervals up to 5 weeks. Of 110 patients tested, 108 returned for the reading of the early reaction, but only 91 attended regularly for the reading of the late reactions. These 91 were: 29 maculoanesthetic, 36 tuberculoid, and 26 lepromatous. The immediate flare was seen in a number of cases of all types and with all the antigens used, but most frequently with the Wade-Mitsuda antigen. It appears to be of a nonspecific nature and of no significance in the present connection. It is concluded that the early reaction can be read at 24 hours as routine. Only when it is negative or doubtful at that time need a 48 hour reading be made. The characteristic nodule of the positive late reaction usually has a 5 mm. minimum with antigens of the classical Mitsuda type, but with the Dharmendra antigen the nodule is smaller. It is believed that 2.5 mm. should be the proper minimum, although 3 mm. was used in this study. The Wade-Mitsuda antigen produced the highest number of positive late reactions and fair number of early reactions. The Dharmendra original caused the highest number of early reactions. The Dharmendra original caused the highest number of positive early reactions, and the lowest number of late reactions. The Dharmendra variant gave results which were intermediate...