Mycobacterium w immunotherapy in leprosy

摘要

Recent trials which demonstrated the benefits of BCG vaccination in preventing all types of leprosy have been followed by trial repots suggesting that immunotherapy may have a role in the treatment of leprosy patients. Extremely thorough work in India identifying, purifying and bringing to trial autoclaved Mycobacterium w (M. w.) has been rewarded with very encouraging early trial results from pilot studies and the first relatively small unblended trials. However, there remain a number of important questions to be answered before the role of M. w. can clearly defined and it can be recommended for routine clinical practice.