In vivoeffects of propranolol on some cellular and humoral immune functions in a group of patients with lepromatous leprosy

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Abstract
Certain functions of blood neutrophils and lymphocytes were investigated at varying time intervals after the addition of propranolol to standard therapy in a group of patients with lepromatous leprosy. A control group of patients received standard therapy only. The leukocyte functions tested were neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and NBT [nitro-blue tetrazolum] reduction and lymphocyte mitogen induced transformation, leukocyte inhibitory factor production and a number of E [erythrocyte] and EAC [erythrocyte, antibody, complement] rosettes. Serum Ig, complement components and total hemolytic complement were measured in both groups. Over 3 mo. neutrophil chemotaxis, numbers of active-E and E rosettes, lymphocyte transformation and lymphokine production improved on standard therapy alone. Although the propranolol group had the highest mean responses, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups of patients after 1 mo. and 3 mo. There was no difference between the 2 groups with respect to other cellular or humoral investigations. Neutrophil chemotaxis appeared to be the best functional correlate of clinical improvement.