[Phagocytosis of Candida albicans by polymorphonuclear leucocytes from patients with nodular lepromatous leprosy].

Patients suffering from nodular lepromatous leprosy are deficient in cellular immunity but may not be more susceptible to other infections. Therefore it is possible that other defense mechanisms are operational in dealing with other infectious agents these patients may be exposed to. In this report, the phagocytic and fungicidal activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells against Candida albicans was examined using PMN from 20 nodular lepromatous patients and from 20 healthy subjects (controls).