Anti-ceramide antibodies in leprosy: marker for nerve damage?
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Published:2010-05-09
Issue:06
Volume:4
Page:378-381
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ISSN:1972-2680
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Container-title:The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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language:
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Short-container-title:J Infect Dev Ctries
Author:
Singh Kalpana,Singh Bhawna,Ray Prakash
Abstract
Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease primarily affecting the peripheral nervous system and skin. Multibacillary leprosy is associated with nerve damage which could contribute to myelin alteration. As ceramide is a constituent of myelin sheath, the present study aimed to compare anti-ceramide antibody titre in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients with controls. Methodology: Serum levels of anti-ceramide antibody were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in 50 leprosy patients (25 paucibacillary and 25 multibacillary) and 25 healthy controls. Results were reported in OD units as mean ± SD and analyzed by Chi square test (significance at p < 0.05). Results: Patients suffering from multibacillary leprosy had significantly higher anti-ceramide antibody serum levels compared to paucibacillary leprosy patients and healthy controls (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Since nerve damage is the most debilitating effect of leprosy, the search for a serum marker for assessing nerve damage is required in countries where leprosy is still widespread. In multibacillary leprosy patients, the role of anti-ceramide antibody as a marker for nerve damage should be explored.
Publisher
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subject
Virology,Infectious Diseases,General Medicine,Microbiology,Parasitology
Cited by
5 articles.
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