IMMUNOGLOBULIN CLASS SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TO M- LEPRAE IN LEPROSY PATIENTS, INCLUDING THE INDETERMINATE GROUP AND HEALTHY CONTACTS AS A STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR SERO-DIAGNOSIS OF LEPROSY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 225-233
Abstract
IgA, IgM and IgG anti-M. leprae antibody activity was quantitated by solid phase radioimmunoassay in groups of untreated leprosy patients throughout the spectrum, in lepromatous leprosy patients treated for > 10 yr, in an indeterminate leprosy group and in a non-leprosy control group. IgA, IgM and IgG anti-M. leprae antibody activity increased from the group of healthy individuals exposed to M. leprae, but without clinical signs of leprosy to tuberculoid (BT and BT/TT) and further to lepromatous (BL to LL) leprosy. There was a considerable overlap in IgA antibody activity while the overlap between controls and tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy was < 20% in the IgM and IgG assays. After > 10 yr of treatment, the IgG anti-M. leprae activity had decreased markedly; there was less effect in the IgA assay and no significant change in the IgM assay. The group of strictly indeterminate leprosy showed signs of an active humoral immune response against M. leprae. The IgM anti-M. leprae activity was higher in indeterminate leprosy than in the control group with virtually no overlap. IgA anti-M. leprae was higher in indeterminate leprosy, but with considerable overlap with the controls. No difference between these 2 groups was found in the IgG assay. The value of the various Ig specific anti-M. leprae assays for different purposes, including development of techniques for serodiagnosis of leprosy is discussed.