Introduction
Leprosy can vary in clinical forms, resulting in dermatoneurological disease with physical disabilities and leprosy reactions. This reaction involves complex immune system activity that can be influenced by vitamin D activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, associating it with sociodemographic aspects and vitamin D levels.
Materials and methods
Cross-sectional study with leprosy patients treated at a Family Health Unit. Surveys of autoantibodies, vitamin D, and sociodemographic aspects were conducted.
Results
Most patients were male (63.4%), aged equal or over 15 years old (80.5%), brown (68.3%), incomplete elementary education (41.5%) and earning between US$203.88 and US$407.76. The presence of autoantibodies was identified, with the most prevalent being anti-β2-GPI IgM and ANA (AC-2, AC-4, and AC-20), both in 14.6% of participants, with statistical significance in the positivity of anti-β2-GPI IgM in multibacillary patients. The average vitamin D level was 29.3 ng/mL, with 43.8 ng/mL for tuberculoid, 28.5 ng/mL for borderline, and 24.9 ng/mL for lepromatous.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, more frequently in the lepromatous clinical form, and low levels of vitamin D in reactional states.
BT - BMC infectious diseases C1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41580618 DA - 01/2026 DO - 10.1186/s12879-026-12578-2 J2 - BMC Infect Dis LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 -Introduction
Leprosy can vary in clinical forms, resulting in dermatoneurological disease with physical disabilities and leprosy reactions. This reaction involves complex immune system activity that can be influenced by vitamin D activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, associating it with sociodemographic aspects and vitamin D levels.
Materials and methods
Cross-sectional study with leprosy patients treated at a Family Health Unit. Surveys of autoantibodies, vitamin D, and sociodemographic aspects were conducted.
Results
Most patients were male (63.4%), aged equal or over 15 years old (80.5%), brown (68.3%), incomplete elementary education (41.5%) and earning between US$203.88 and US$407.76. The presence of autoantibodies was identified, with the most prevalent being anti-β2-GPI IgM and ANA (AC-2, AC-4, and AC-20), both in 14.6% of participants, with statistical significance in the positivity of anti-β2-GPI IgM in multibacillary patients. The average vitamin D level was 29.3 ng/mL, with 43.8 ng/mL for tuberculoid, 28.5 ng/mL for borderline, and 24.9 ng/mL for lepromatous.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, more frequently in the lepromatous clinical form, and low levels of vitamin D in reactional states.
PY - 2026 SP - 1 EP - 44 T2 - BMC infectious diseases TI - Autoantibodies and vitamin D in leprosy patients in the Brazilian Amazon. UR - https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12879-026-12578-2_reference.pdf SN - 1471-2334 ER -