CLASS SPECIFIC ANTI-MYCOBACTERIUM LEPRAE ANTIBODY-ASSAY IN LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY (BL-LL) PATIENTS DURING THE 1ST 2 TO 4 YEARS OF DDS TREATMENT

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (3) , 271-281
Abstract
Previously, a slight decrease in antibodies against M. leprae antigen 7 was demonstrated after 1 yr of dapsone (DDS) treatment in 14 of 15 patients with lepromatous leprosy. The same patients have now received DDS from 1 1/2-4 yr (median 3 yr) and sera taken at the start, during, and at the end of the observation period have been retested for antibodies against M. leprae antigen 7 by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and tested for IgA-, IgM- and IgG-anti-M. leprae antibody activity by solid phase radioimmunoassay (sRIA). Both IgA- and IgG-anti-M. leprae antibody activity and the activity of antibodies against M. leprae antigen 7 showed a decrease in activity after 3 yr of DDS treatment to a median value of .apprx. 1/3 of the activity in the sera taken at the start of the study. A smaller but significant decrease in IgM-anti-M. leprae antibody activity could be demonstrated. A transient increase in antibody activity (both measured by RIA and sRIA) could be demonstrated and related to reactions (reversal reaction and erythema nodosum leprosum) in 5 patients. No significant correlation could be found when IgA-, IgM- and IgG-anti-M. leprae antibody activity was compared with antibodies against M. leprae antigen 7 in individual sera.

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