01904nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002900055653002400084653001800108653002100126653001100147653002000158653001200178653002500190653000900215100001500224700001500239700001300254700001300267245008800280300000900368490000600377520122900383022001401612       1983                            d  c1983 Jan10aAntigen-Antibody Complex10aAntigens, Bacterial10aComplement C310aErythema Nodosum10aHumans10aImmunoglobulins10aleprosy10aMycobacterium leprae10aSkin1 aMshana R N1 aHumber D P1 aBelehu A1 aHarboe M00aImmunohistological studies of skin biopsies from patients with lepromatous leprosy.  a22-90 v33 a<p>Forty-six skin biopsies from lepromatous leprosy patients were examined for immunoglobulin and complement deposits as well as mycobacterial antigens. Rabbit anti-human immunoglobulin, rabbit anti-human C3, and rabbit anti-Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) were used as the primary antigen-detecting antibodies in a peroxidase antiperoxidase technique. Of the 26 biopsies from active erythema nodosum leprosum lesions, 6 were positive for immunoglobulin or complement deposits. These deposits were found in the dermoepidermal junction, within the foamy cells, and, in one patient, around a blood vessel. Five of twenty patients with lepromatous leprosy without erythema nodosum leprosum showed similar deposits in the dermoepidermal junction and within foamy cells. None of these patients had these deposits around blood vessels. Mycobacterial antigens were seen in all biopsies studied. The presence of acute inflammatory infiltrates did not correlate with the presence or absence of immunoglobulin or complement deposits. It is felt that immunoglobulin or complement deposits are not a constant feature of early erythema nodosum leprosum lesions and that these deposits may be secondary rather than primary in these lesions.</p>  a0271-9142