TY - JOUR KW - Adolescent KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Antibodies, Antinuclear KW - Antibodies, Bacterial KW - C-Reactive Protein KW - Child KW - Female KW - Host-Parasite Interactions KW - Humans KW - leprosy KW - Leprosy, lepromatous KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Mycobacterium leprae KW - Rheumatoid Factor KW - Sensitivity and Specificity AU - Kirsztajn G M AU - Nishida S K AU - SILVA M S AU - Lombardi C AU - Ajzen H AU - Pereira A B AB -

1. We have studied some generic and specific aspects of the humoral immune response in 96 patients with leprosy (29 paucibacillary and 67 multibacillary individuals). We determined serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG and IgA), CH50, C1q, C3 and C4, circulating immune complexes (CIC), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibodies. No specific pattern of general humoral immune changes could be observed. 2. The specific immune response was studied by the detection of specific IgM anti-M. leprae antibodies. An immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and an ELISA were compared for clinical effectiveness. IRMA showed greater sensitivity for the serodiagnosis of leprosy as compared to ELISA (88.1% vs 58.2% for multibacillary patients and 20.7% vs 10.3% for paucibacillary leprosy patients). Specificity was 96% for IRMA and 97% for ELISA. 3. Our results indicate that nonspecific changes in the humoral immune response are of little value in assessing leprosy patients and that immune assays for the detection of specific anti-M. leprae antibodies may be of value in the diagnosis, study and follow-up of these patients.

BT - Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8173529?dopt=Abstract DA - 1994 Jan IS - 1 J2 - Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. LA - eng N2 -

1. We have studied some generic and specific aspects of the humoral immune response in 96 patients with leprosy (29 paucibacillary and 67 multibacillary individuals). We determined serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG and IgA), CH50, C1q, C3 and C4, circulating immune complexes (CIC), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibodies. No specific pattern of general humoral immune changes could be observed. 2. The specific immune response was studied by the detection of specific IgM anti-M. leprae antibodies. An immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and an ELISA were compared for clinical effectiveness. IRMA showed greater sensitivity for the serodiagnosis of leprosy as compared to ELISA (88.1% vs 58.2% for multibacillary patients and 20.7% vs 10.3% for paucibacillary leprosy patients). Specificity was 96% for IRMA and 97% for ELISA. 3. Our results indicate that nonspecific changes in the humoral immune response are of little value in assessing leprosy patients and that immune assays for the detection of specific anti-M. leprae antibodies may be of value in the diagnosis, study and follow-up of these patients.

PY - 1994 SP - 43 EP - 54 T2 - Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas TI - Specific and nonspecific aspects of humoral immune response in leprosy. VL - 27 SN - 0100-879X ER -