RESUMO
We studied the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with leprosy and the effects of co-infection on the immune response to Helicobacter antigens in the polar groups of leprosy (lepromatous and tuberculoid). We showed that there is no difference in the prevalence of H. pylori in patients with leprosy as compared to a non-leprosy population. We also demonstrated that the immune response to low molecular weight H. pylori antigens (35, 26 and 19 kDa) differs in patients with lepromatous as compared to those with tuberculoid leprosy. In lepromatous leprosy, we show that there is a higher prevalence of the 35 and 26 kDa antigens, but a lower prevalence of the 19 kDa antigen. These immunological results are consistent with previous histopathological studies illustrating a more severe gastrointestinal inflammation in lepromatous patients; importantly, a response to the 35 kDa antigen is recognized as a marker for the development of ulcerative disease.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Bactérias/imunologia , Gastrite/microbiologia , Infecções por Helicobacter/imunologia , Helicobacter pylori/imunologia , Imunomodulação/imunologia , Hanseníase Virchowiana/imunologia , Hanseníase Tuberculoide/imunologia , Adulto , Idoso , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/análise , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Western Blotting , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Gastrite/complicações , Gastrite/imunologia , Infecções por Helicobacter/complicações , Infecções por Helicobacter/microbiologia , Humanos , Hanseníase Virchowiana/complicações , Hanseníase Virchowiana/microbiologia , Hanseníase Tuberculoide/complicações , Hanseníase Tuberculoide/microbiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , EspanhaRESUMO
Two antral biopsies each from 104 patients of leprosy and 100 controls were studied to find out the prevalence of H. pylori and associated histopathological changes. Sections were stained with hematoxylene and eosin, AB/PAS (Ph 2.5) and Loeffler's methylene blue stains. Infection by H. pylori, inflammation and atrophy were found to be significantly more in leprosy patients as compared to controls (p < 0.01, < 0.005 and < 0.02 respectively). On comparing the histopathological changes in various subgroups of leprosy, H. pylori, inflammation and activity showed a statistically decreasing trend from tuberculoid to lepromatous subgroups (p < 0.05, < 0.001, < 0.01 respectively). Atrophy showed a significant increasing trend from tuberculoid to lepromatous group (< 0.001), it is concluded that despite a low prevalence of H. pylori and associated gastritis in patients with lepromatous leprosy, gastric epithelial damage is more marked due to altered immune response.