Oral zinc therapy in recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum: a clinical study.

Effect of oral zinc as an immunomodulator was studied clinically in patients with recurrent ENL over a period of one year. In this study, 40 leprosy patients with chronic ENL, requiring more than 30-40 mg of prednisolone/day for the control of their reactions, were given oral zinc sulphate for a period of four months, and, marked improvement in the frequency, duration and severity of reactions was observed after zinc therapy. Also evident was marked reduction in the steroid requirement after oral zinc therapy. It appears that zinc may be a good substitute for the present day anti-reaction treatment which is not free from disadvantages. Further investigations to know the precise action of zinc on immune-system may help to understand the role of zinc therapy and its optimum duration.