Specific IgE antibodies to Leishmania braziliensis in patients with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

A total of 116 sera of patients suffering from South American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis were analysed using the RAST (L. braziliensis-specific) and RIST techniques. Results of total and specific IgE levels were correlated with different clinical stages of the disease. The level of total and specific IgE appeared to be higher among patients with cutaneous ulcers than among those presenting mucocutaneous lesions, i.e. espundia. Furthermore, non-treated patients presented higher concentrations of total and specific IgE than did treated ones.