Circulating and tissue immune complexes in leprosy.
Various immunological studies were conducted in lepromatous leprosy patients. There was a polyclonal rise of all the three major immunoglobulins. Serum IgD levels remained unaltered. Positive latex agglutination reactions (RA) and parietal cell antibodies were distinctly more frequent in patients. Eighty-five percent of patients showed a strongly positive complement deviation test, and the mean platelet aggregation titer was 1 in 81 in the patients compared to 1 in 3 in the controls, thus indicating the presence of circulating immune complexes in a large percentage of cases. Immunoglobulins and complement were observed in the dermal capillaries and small arterioles, but not in larger vessels, in 6 of 17 cases. Only one case showed staining of the dermoepidermal junction. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in a single patient, and this patient also showed ANA in vivo.
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor