A study of Prausnitz-Küstner reaction in leprosy

Abstract

P–K reaction was studied in twenty biopsy proven leprosy cases who denied any personal histories of atopic diseases and exhibited no reaction to antigenic extracts or homologous serum. The reaginic sera used were obtained from well-documented cases of asthma, which gave highly positive (+ + to + + +) P–K reaction in normal individuals. The P–K reactions were positive in 20% of leprosy cases. The intensity of weal and erythema was depressed even in these cases. Type and stage of the disease did not seem to influence the weal and flare of P–K reaction. In the light of these findings a possible mechanism of P–K reaction has been discussed.