title: Circulating immune complexes and anti-IgG antibodies in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Circulating immune complexes (CIC), anti-IgG, anti-DNA, and anti-collagen autoantibodies (Ab) were investigated in sera from patients with South American leishmaniasis. No significant levels of anti-DNA or anti-collagen autoantibodies were observed. Only a few patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis or with only one mucocutaneous lesion showed values for CIC and anti-IgG Ab higher than those in the control group. In contrast, both CIC and anti-IgG Ab were demonstrated in most patients with several lesions due to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MMC). Moreover, a close correlation was noticed between the detection of CIC and anti-IgG Ab in MMC patients. This relationship suggested that part of the detected CIC could have been formed by IgG-anti-IgG complexes. The involvement of these immunopathologically active substances in the clinical evolution of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G