Serum zinc levels in subtypes of leprosy.

Serum zinc levels were estimated in 146 patients with different types of leprosy and 40 control subjects. Tuberculoid patients were found to have normal serum zinc levels. A gradual reduction in serum zinc levels was observed from TT to LL. Serum zinc levels were not significantly higher in patients treated with dapsone for approximately 18 months. The cause of hypozincemia is not clear, but the findings suggest that there are correlations among bacillary load, immune status, and serum zinc. Zinc deficiency could be one of the factors involved in the nonspecific suppression of cell-mediated immunity in lepromatous leprosy.