Detection of antibodies to phenolic glycolipid by ELISA in leprosy patients.

Antibody (IgM) response to PGL-1, a surface glycolipid unique to Mycobacterium leprae has been studied in 25 cases each of lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy and in 25 healthy controls. The absorbance value at 488 nm was expressed as antibody titre. Serum antibody titre was found to be significantly higher in patients than controls. Results confirm that antibody response in leprosy patients depend upon bacterial load.