EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY ON ANTIBODY-LEVELS DIRECTED AGAINST PGL-I AND85A AND 85B PROTEIN ANTIGENS IN LEPROMATOUS PATIENTS

IgG antibodies against antigens 85A and 85B from Mycobocterium bovis B CG, IgM antibodies against phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) and circulati ng PGL-I antigen were measured in the serum of 11 patients with leprom atous leprosy receiving multidrug therapy (MDT). Before treatment. 6 p atients were reactive to antigen 85A, 10 patients to antigen 85B, and 11 patients to PGL-I; circulating PGL-I was detected in the sera of al l of them. After 2 years of MDT PGL-I antigen could no longer be detec ted in all of the patients, except for two who were not compliant with treatment. IgG antibodies directed against the 85A and 85B antigens a nd IgM antibodies against the PGL-I antigen also decreased significant ly during treatment but more slowly. The determination of circulating PGL-I antigen remains the most appropriate tool for monitoring leproma tous leprosy under MDT.