# Autoantibodies and vitamin D in leprosy patients in the Brazilian Amazon

## TL;DR

This study found autoantibodies and low vitamin D levels in leprosy patients in the Brazilian Amazon, with differences based on disease type.

## Contribution

The study links autoantibody presence and vitamin D levels to specific leprosy clinical forms in a Brazilian population.

## Key findings

- Autoantibodies like anti-β2-GPI IgM and ANA were most common in lepromatous leprosy patients.
- Vitamin D levels were lowest in lepromatous and borderline leprosy cases.
- Sociodemographic data showed most patients were male, brown-skinned, and had low income.

## Abstract

Leprosy can vary in clinical forms, resulting in dermatoneurological disease with physical disabilities and leprosy reactions. This reaction involves complex immune system activity that can be influenced by vitamin D activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, associating it with sociodemographic aspects and vitamin D levels.

Cross-sectional study with leprosy patients treated at a Family Health Unit. Surveys of autoantibodies, vitamin D, and sociodemographic aspects were conducted.

Most patients were male (63.4%), aged equal or over 15 years old (80.5%), brown (68.3%), incomplete elementary education (41.5%) and earning between US$203.88 and US$407.76. The presence of autoantibodies was identified, with the most prevalent being anti-β2-GPI IgM and ANA (AC-2, AC-4, and AC-20), both in 14.6% of participants, with statistical significance in the positivity of anti-β2-GPI IgM in multibacillary patients. The average vitamin D level was 29.3 ng/mL, with 43.8 ng/mL for tuberculoid, 28.5 ng/mL for borderline, and 24.9 ng/mL for lepromatous.

Our study demonstrated the presence of autoantibodies in leprosy patients in Marabá, more frequently in the lepromatous clinical form, and low levels of vitamin D in reactional states.