title: Evaluation of circulating immune complexes in leprosy.
abstract: Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were evaluated in leprosy by 4 methods: the 125I-C1q binding assay (C1q), the platelet aggregation test (PAT), the 3.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation test and the 2.5% PEG precipitation assay. Serum samples belonged to lepromatous leprosy bacilloscopy positive (LL+), lepromatous leprosy bacilloscopy negative (LL-), tuberculoid (TT) and first grade contact group (Co). Studies performed by the 3 first methods showed higher CIC levels in LL+ group (p less than 0.01) and lower values in the 3 others, all of them when compared to normals. On the contrary, the 2.5% PEG precipitation test gave less discriminative results giving only p less than 0.01 in LL+. CIC values obtained in the contact group showed significant results compared to normals but similar to LL- and TT groups. The C1q binding assay and the PAT were the most discriminative methods giving r = 0.90; C1q versus 3.5% PEG, r = 0.36; C1q vs 2.5% PEG, r = 0.14. The PAT compared to 3.5% PEG, r = 0.48 and PAT vs. 2.5% PEG, r = 0.24. Therefore it may be concluded as follows: a) The radioiodinated C1q binding assay and the PAT are recommended for the study of CIC in leprosy; b) The 2.5% PEG precipitation assay offers less sensitivity since it gave similar value in LL-, TT, Co and controls; c) CIC levels observed in LL+ patients may be induced by the antigenic overload demonstrated by the positive bacilloscopy; d) The contacts have CIC levels significantly different from the normal population possibly caused by a subclinical infection.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bottasso
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Segal-Eiras
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex