Essential fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with leprosy

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Abstract
Plasma phospholipid essential fatty acids were investigated in 40 patients with leprosy and 40 controls. A significant reduction in linoleic acid was found in the leprosy patients, with an increase in its metabolite dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid. No difference was found between patients with multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy. Patients treated for less than 6 months were found to have low levels of linoleic acid and high levels of dihomo‐γ‐linolenic and arachidonic acid compared with patients treated for more than 6 months.