Blood Chemistry.pdf

444 PORTO RICO JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROP . MEDICINE
in their work that serum calcium is within normal limits in leprosy,
that it is not affected by ty pe, duration or treatment of the disease,
but it is 'slightly increased in recovered cases.
The writers believe that the difference of opinions between th e
investigators cited is of interest and leaves the subjec t open to further
study.
Gomez, Leitas, Pereira and Wancollecr) studying the cholesterol
content of the blood in leprosy found a reduction proportional to
the gravity of the case and a further decrease in febrile reerudescense :
they observed further that chaulmoogra-oil treatment increased
cholesterol and that patients with high cholesterol rarely developed
severe forms of leprosy.
Boyd and Roy (8), working in India, found that cholesterol was
reduced in the early st ages of the disease and that in advanced cases
ciphers were still lower. They observed further that in advancedtreated
cases cholesterol does not return to normal.
'We have found only OD e study in the literature where the chloride
eontent of lepers' blood was 'studied. This was mad e by P aras f")
who found them normal.
In the literature available we have been unable to obtain data
as to the phosphorus content and icteric index in leprosy.
METHODS.
The det erminations were done on blood serums only. Blood
samples were conveniently collected and allowed to coagulate at room
temperature. The blood clot was removed bv centrifu gation and
pipetting th e clear supernatant blood serum.
In determining serum calcium , Clark and Collips f!") modification
of the Kramer method WBS used. For cholesterol determinations,
Sackett's(ll) modification of Bloor's method. The chlori des were determined
by the Van Slyke method as modified by Wilson and
Ball. (1%)
For phosphorus Brigg's modification of tb e Bell and Doisv
method was used and the Icteric Index was determined by the
Jfeul engoraeht method.
Pindings are correlated with abnormalities in th e nrines, type of
leprosy, and extent and duration of the disease. Diet and drug
therapy are also taken into consideration.
As controls, a group of apparently normal persons is studied. A
~peon d group was selected among non-lepers with nephritis.
The data is presented in thirteen tables . In tables I to III lepers