Anticardiolipin antibodies in leprosy

Eighty-four leprosy patients were studied clinically and for IgG and IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies. Following WHO criteria, 41 patients could be classified as multibacillary (MB) and 43 as paucibacillary (PB). Baseline levels of IgG and IgM antibodies were 27 +/- 4.8 GPL and 20 +/- 3.4 MPL per ml respectively. Comparing with these, 60.9% of MB and 39.5% of PB cases showed rise in IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies; 19.5% of MB and 4.6% of PB sera showed rise in only IgG antibodies, while 4.8% of MB and 13.9% of PB cases showed rise only in IgM antibodies. Rise in aCL antibodies had no correlation with cardiovascular involvement, bacteriological index, reactive state and duration or regularity of treatment.