The role of antiperipheral nerve antibodies in nerve damage in leprosy

The objective of this study was to determine the role of antineural antibodies in leprosy. Indirect ELISA using antigen prepared from normal human peripheral nerves was carried out on the sera from 100 leprosy patients and 18 normal controls. In total, 9% of the patients had demonstrable levels of IgG antineural antibodies and 11% had demonstrable levels of IgM antibodies. There was no correlation with the type of leprosy, bacteriological index, treatment taken, the presence of a reactional state, the presence of enlarged nerves or active neuritis.