Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of phenolic glycolipid-I in patients with Hansen’s disease
Abstract
Introduction: Hansen’s disease or leprosy is a contagious-infection entity produced by the Hansen bacillus or Mycobacterium leprae. The phenolic glycolipid is a special trisaccharide found in the bacillus cell wall and proved to be specific and immunogenic species during M. leprae.Objective: To determine the presence of the Hansen bacillus enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) method glycolipid phenolic I in a group of patients in Dermatology Consultation at the Valle del Cauca Health Services; these patients were classified as cures or under watch according to criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Methodology: From the data base of the Dermatology Consultation at the Valle del Cauca Health Services, we studied 159 patients with Hansen’s disease who were tested with the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) with the phenolic glycolipid I to cross reference information and observe if they were or were not positive to this test. A positive ELISA indicates the bacillus is still present in the patient.
Results: As an important fact, we found that of 78 patients cured, when bearing in mind the monitoring period, 9 were positive for the ELISA. When this period was discarded, 81 sick individuals were classified as cured according to WHO criteria but the same 9 continued positive for ELISA.
Conclusion: It may be concluded that in spite of meeting WHO criteria, these patients still show presence of the bacillus and the monitoring period is not required as a criterion to discharge a patient. We recommend adding to WHO criteria a negative ELISA, to obtain additional information that helps to certify that a patient is or is not cured.
Authors
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Submitted
2010-09-07
|
372 |
How to Cite
Moreno, L., & Alzate, A. (1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of phenolic glycolipid-I in patients with Hansen’s disease. Colombia Médica, 41(2), 155-160. Retrieved from https://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co/colombiamedica311/index.php/comedica/article/view/697
Issue
Section
Original Articles
The copy rights of the articles published in Colombia Médica belong to the Universidad del Valle. The contents of the articles that appear in the Journal are exclusively the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Committee of the Journal. It is allowed to reproduce the material published in Colombia Médica without prior authorization for non-commercial use