title: Serological responses to prednisolone treatment in leprosy reactions: study of TNF-α, antibodies to phenolic glycolipid-1, lipoarabinomanan, ceramide and S100-B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Corticosteroids have been extensively used in the treatment of immunological reactions and neuritis in leprosy. The present study evaluates the serological response to steroid treatment in leprosy reactions and neuritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven serological markers [TNF-α, antibodies to Phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1 IgM and IgG), Lipoarabinomannan (LAM IgG1 and IgG3), C2-Ceramide and S100 B] were analyzed longitudinally in 72 leprosy patients before, during and after the reaction. At the onset of reaction these patients received a standard course of prednisolone. The levels of the above markers were measured by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared with the individuals own value in the month prior to the reaction and presented as percentage increase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month before the reaction individuals showed a varying increase in the level of different markers such as TNF-α (53%) and antibodies to Ceramide (53%), followed by to PGL-1 (51%), S100B (50%) and LAM (26%). The increase was significantly associated with clinical finding of nerve pain, tenderness and new nerve function impairment. After one month prednisolone therapy, there was a fall in the levels [TNF-α (60%), C2-Ceramide (54%), S100B (67%), PGL-1(47%) and LAM (52%)] with each marker responding differently to steroid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reactions in leprosy are inflammatory processes wherein a rise in set of serological markers can be detected a month before the clinical onset of reaction, some of which remain elevated during their action and steroid treatment induces a variable fall in the levels, and this forms the basis for a variable individual response to steroid therapy.
authors: Renuka
authors: R
authors: Raju
authors: Sujai
authors: S
authors: Suneetha
authors: Rupendra S
authors: RS
authors: Jadhav
authors: MeherVani
authors: M
authors: Chaduvula
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Atkinson
authors: Suman
authors: S
authors: Jain
authors: Leo H
authors: LH
authors: Visser
authors: Loretta
authors: L
authors: Das
authors: Ravindra
authors: R
authors: Panhalkar
authors: Vidyagouri
authors: V
authors: Shinde
authors: Parphananda P
authors: PP
authors: Reddy
authors: Pramila
authors: P
authors: Barkataki
authors: Diana Nj
authors: DNj
authors: Lockwood
authors: Wim H
authors: WH
authors: Van Brakel
authors: CODEWEL Nireekshana ACET India, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad 500029 AP, India. drlavanyasuneetha@gmail.com.
authors: Lavanya M
authors: LM
authors: Suneetha
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000276:immunology; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001323:Autoantibodies; D002518:Ceramides; D006017:Glycolipids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; C579160:S100B protein, human; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C050016:lipoarabinomannan; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae; D011239:Prednisolone