A FAMILY STUDY OF LEPROSY - SUBCUTANEOUS AMYLOID DEPOSITS AND HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 47-55
Abstract
One group of 11 Aboriginal families, consisting of 27 persons with leprosy and 43 unaffected family members, and a 2nd group of 26 patients with leprosy were studied in the Northern Territory of Australia. Amyloid deposits were sought in fine-needle aspirates of s.c. fat and serological investigations relevant to amyloidosis and to the humoral immune response were done. Unexpectedly high frequencies of amyloid deposits, evidence of persisting hepatitis B virus infection and antibodies to smooth muscle, to skin basement membrane and to extractable nuclear antigens were noted. Compared with unaffected family members, patients with leprosy had increased serum .alpha.-lipoprotein (.alpha.-LP) and were more often hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers but, contrary to expectations, the presence of amyloid, the .alpha.-LP level, serum amyloid associated protein and the HBsAg carrier state all appeared unrelated to the type of leprosy.