IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF LEPROSY WITH REFERENCE TO EXTRAVASCULAR IMMUNOGLOBULINS - THEIR EXCRETION PROFILE IN URINE

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (4) , 456-461
Abstract
An aliquot of 24 h urine collected from leprosy patients was concentrated and examined for the presence of albumin, transferrin, Ig[immunoglobulin]G, IgA, IgM, IgD, C3 [complement component 3], and .kappa. and .lambda. l chains by the gel diffusion technique using respective monospecific antisera. Urinary protein excretion profile in lepromatous leprosy patients showed that while excretion of transferrin in the urine was negligible; that of IgG molecules, a substance of higher MW, was significant. The Ig excreted in the urine may not be plasma-derived, but extravascular in origin. They are probably synthesized in the urinary tract. Out of 25 leprosy patients, 2 female patients having severe lepra reactions developed urinary tract infections. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were isolated from their urine. The urinary IgG levels in those 2 cases were apparently the highest in the series.

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