Autoantibodies and vitamin D in leprosy patients in the Brazilian Amazon.

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.