Anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies are highly prevalent in a large number of Brazilian leprosy patients.

Abstract

Increased levels of aCL and anti-β2GPI antibodies were found in leprosy patients and in the APS group, however, in contrast to APS, the predominant isotype in leprosy was IgM. The frequency of aCL and anti-β2GPI antibodies was significantly higher in leprosy patients than in healthy individuals (15.8% vs. 3.1%; p>0.01; 46.2% vs. 9.4%, p>0.01), respectively. The lepromatous form predominated among aCL positive leprosy patients (p>0.01). There was no difference in aCL and anti-β2GPI positivity between leprosy patients taking MDT and those completed MDT as cured. Furthermore the duration of discharged period (period between discharge from MDT and the realization of the study) had no effect on anti-β2GPI positivity, and a slight increase in aCL positivity was observed in patients with longer follow up periods (p=0.04), suggesting that the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) was not a transient phenomenon. Although aPL in leprosy were frequent and β2GPI-dependent as those found in APS, IgM was the predominant isotype, and there was no association with thrombosis or other APS manifestations.