Leptospirosis severity may be associated with the intensity of humoral immune response

Authors

  • Regina C.R.M. ABDULKADER Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Hospital das Clínicas
  • Elizabeth F. DAHER Universidade Federal do Ceará; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Clínica
  • Eide D. CAMARGO Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo; Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Seção de Sorologia
  • Cláudia SPINOSA Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo; Instituto Adolfo Lutz; Seção de Sorologia
  • Marcos Vinícius da SILVA Faculdade de Medicina da Pontifícia Universidade de São Paulo; Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo; Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas

Keywords:

Leptospirosis, Humoral immune response, Antibody avidity

Abstract

Leptospirosis severity may be increasing, with pulmonary involvement becoming more frequent. Does this increase result from an intense immune response to leptospire? Notice that renal failure, thrombocytopenia and pulmonary complications are found during the immune phase. Thirty-five hospitalized patients with Weil's disease had 5 blood samples drawn, from the 15th day to the 12th month of symptoms, for ELISA-IgM, -IgG and -IgA specific antibody detection. According their 1st IgG titer, the patients were divided into: group 1 (n = 13) titer >; 1:400 (positive) and group 2 (n = 22) titer <=1:400 (negative). Early IgG antibodies in group 1 showed high avidity which may indicate reinfection. Group 1 was older, had worse pulmonary and renal function, and fever for a longer period than group 2. Throughout the study, IgG and IgA titers remained higher in group 1. In conclusion, the severity of Weil's disease may be associated with the intensity of the humoral immune response to leptospire.

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Published

2002-04-01

Issue

Section

Leptospirosis

How to Cite

ABDULKADER, R. C., DAHER, E. F., CAMARGO, E. D., SPINOSA, C., & SILVA, M. V. da. (2002). Leptospirosis severity may be associated with the intensity of humoral immune response . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 44(2), 79-83. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/30606