title: Role of antineural antibodies in perpetuation of a pre-existing peripheral nerve damage in leprosy.
abstract: This study was carried out in order to find out whether antineural antibodies had a role to play in perpetuating pre-existing nerve damage in leprosy. Indirect ELISA was carried out on sera from 20 leprosy patients and five normal controls using antigen prepared from peripheral nerves of a cured bacteriologically negative leprosy patient. None of the patients had significant levels of IgG antibodies whereas eight of them (40%) had significant levels of IgM antibodies. However, there was no correlation with duration of disease, treatment received, nerve enlargement or active neuritis. The nature of these antibodies is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desikan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parkash
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Narang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M