02343nas a2200145   4500000000100000008004100001100001400042700001600056700001300072245008600085856007100171300001000242490000700252520193800259       2020                            d1 aSutaria A1 aVaishnani J1 aPatel NM00aCross Sectional Study of C - Reactive Protein (CRP) in Leprosy and Lepra Reaction  uhttp://www.ijl.org.in/2020/02%20Sutaria%20et%20al%20%20(71-79).pdf  a71-790 v923 aLeprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae with varied clinical presentations. Lepra
reactions result from sudden changes in immunological response against M. leprae, these are characterized by sudden appearance of signs and symptoms of tissue inflammation. C - reactive protein (CRP) is acute phase reactant and could be useful in monitoring the lepra reactions. The aim of present study was to assess CRP status in leprosy and lepra reaction patients so as to explore the possible utility of CRP as acute phase reactant in lepra reactions. This cross sectional study was conducted at tertiary care centre of SMIMER, Surat, Gujarat, India on newly diagnosed leprosy patients and those on treatment experiencing lepra reaction attending leprosy clinic between June 2017 to September 2018. Cases were clinically classified and treated as per National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) guidelines. Serum CRP was measured by Latex semiquantitative method. Out of 97 leprosy cases, reactive CRP was found in 37 (38.14%) cases. Reactive CRP was
in 18 (40% n=45) cases of Borderline leprosy, and 13 (48.15% n=27) cases of Lepromatous leprosy, 5 (26.32%, n=19) cases of Tuberculoid leprosy, 1 (16.67% n=6) cases of Pure neural leprosy. Among Type 1 Lepra reaction cases, 13 (76.47% n=17) cases had reactive CRP, while among Type 2 reaction cases, 9 (75% n=12) had reactive CRP. Difference of reactive CRP between leprosy and lepra reaction was statistically significant. While the cross sectional study design and small sample size are the limitations of present study. Our data indicates reactive CRP in lepra reaction state might serve as surrogate marker for lepra reaction. Quantitative measurement of CRP along with clinical signs & symptoms could help to categorise severity of lepra reaction. This marker thus needs to be further studied by follow up investigations in statistically significant number of cases.