Contribuição ao estudo da fixação do complemento na lepra

Abstract

One hundrcd and thirty complement fixation reactions were made with methlic and aqueous antigen of the Streptotbrix leproide of DEYCKE; 51 of these were on lepers and 79 on controls. The aqueous antigen was prepared with Streptothrix leproide of DEYCKE. rendered fat-free by the MC JUNKINS method, with acetone and olive oil; thc methylic antigen was prepared in accordance to the method used by Ni!GRE and BOUQUET for methylic tuberculous antigen. The results were diffcrent with each antigen. In leprosy cases the percentage of positive reactions was greater with the aqucous (81.8%). than with thc methylic antigen (52.6%). The perccntage of positivc cases in relation to the clinicai forms of the disease was as follows: 1-with methylic antigen: a) cutaneous leprosy 57.8%. b) nervous type - 30%. c) - mixed types - 70%: 11 - with the aqueous antigen; a) cutaneous leprosy - 90 4%. b) nervous type - 70 %. c) mixed type - 85 %) . The aqueous proved to be better than the methylic antigen. also with the controls. although hcre the difference was small. In syphilitic cases ali complement reactions were negative with the aqueous antigen, while one was positive with the methylic antigen, among 13 cases examined. The methylic antigen was less specific in tuberculosis ( 33,3% positive reactions) than the aqueous antigen ( 300/0 ) ; in cutaneous diseases the results were tha same with cither antigen, giving a high percentage of nos-specific rcacctions (54.1 o/o). In healthy individuais (22 cases) thc reaction was always negative with both antigens. The aqueous antigen prepared with Streptothrix leprolde of DEYCKE. proved to be better than the methylic antigen. The GOMES reaction ls not specific. When positive it can only indicate a suspectcd case of leprosy.