The authors investigated serial changes of bacillary and granularity indices from 49 previously non-treated lepromatous leprosy patients under DDS therapy during 24 month period, and the following results were obtained. 1) Pretreatment bacillary index was highest on eye brows, and chins, ear lobes, arms, legs, backs in decreasing order. The proportion of fall of B.I. during therapy showed similar tendencies in each site of smears, the average decrease being 1. 2 in the first year and 0. 8 in the second year. 2) The average granularity index before therapy was 2. 5, the rise of G.I. was rapid during first 12 months, slower during next 6 months, and no significant changes were seen during last 6 months. 3) The changes of G.I. were faster and more sensitive to therapy than that of B.I. Therefore, it. seems more valuable assesing the response of therapy, drug resistance, prognosis, etc 4) 300 mg of DDS per week appears to be sufficient for maintaining the therapeutic dosage.
Arm ; Chin ; Drug Therapy ; Ear ; Equidae ; Humans ; Leg ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Mycobacterium* ; Prognosis