title: The recurrence of leprosy reactional episodes could be associated with oral chronic infections and expression of serum IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma and IL-10.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of leprosy reactional episodes could be associated with chronic oral infection. Thirty-eight leprosy patients were selected and divided into 2 groups: group I - 19 leprosy patients with oral infections, and group II - 19 leprosy patients without oral infections. Ten patients without leprosy, but presenting oral infections, were assigned to the control group. Leprosy patients were classified according to Ridley and Jopling classification and reactional episodes of the erythema nodosum type or reversal reaction were identified by clinical and histopathological features associated with serum IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels. These analyses were performed immediately before and 7 days after the oral infection elimination. Patients from group I presenting oral infections reported clinical improvement of the symptoms of reactional episodes after dental treatment. Serum IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels did not differ significantly before and after dental treatment as determined by the Wilcoxon test (p>0.05). Comparison of the 2 groups showed statistically significant differences in IL-1 and IL-6 at baseline and in IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 on the occasion of both collections 7 days after therapy. Serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels in group I differed significantly at baseline compared to control (Mann-Whitney test; p<0.05). These results suggest that oral infection could be involved as a maintenance factor in the pathogenesis of leprosy reactional episodes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. anacfm@usp.br
authors.forename: Ana Carolina F
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Renata Bazan
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Furini
authors.forename: João Carlos Lopes
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Simão
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida Nunes
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marilena C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Komesu
authors.forename: Norma T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Foss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma