PubMed · 1322576
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N Awofeso. 1992. Thalidomide peripheral neuropathy.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1322576/
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10 patients with borderline and lepromatous leprosy were selected for a prolonged trial with recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma). Patients received 30 micrograms intradermally for six injections over a 9-d period, and then either 100 micrograms intradermally every 1 mo for 10 mo or every 2 wk for 5 mo (total, 1.2 mg). Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) was induced in 60% of the patients within 6-7 mo, as compared with an incidence of 15% per year with multiple drug therapy alone. The mean whole-body reduction in bacterial index over the first 6 mo was 0.9 log units. Cutaneous induration at the intradermal injection sites of greater than or equal to 15 mm predicted the development of a subsequent reactional state. Monocytes obtained from patients receiving the lymphokine demonstrated an increased respiratory burst and a 2.5-5.1-fold increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in response to agonists. Patients in ENL had an even higher release of TNF-alpha from monocytes as well as high levels of TNF-alpha in the plasma (mean, 2,000 pg/ml). Thalidomide therapy was required to treat the systemic manifestations of ENL. Control of toxic symptoms with thalidomide was associated with a 50-80% reduction in agonist-stimulated monocyte TNF-alpha secretion. IFN-gamma enhanced the monocyte release of TNF-alpha by 3-7.5-fold (agonist dependent) when added to patient's cells in vitro, and this could be suppressed by the in vitro addition of 10 micrograms/ml of thalidomide.
Apart from vague statements and speculative remarks, the role of ENL in the oral cavity has not been considered in the recent English language literature. A case of oral ENL is reported, and we postulate that ENL plays a prominent role in the intra-oral destruction noted in leprosy. Information gathered from the literature and from our own experience with a series of 37 leprosy patients with oral lesions support this postulation.
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