Autoantibodies and complement levels of Kala-Azar patients in the south of Iran

ABSTRACT

In a prospective study, serum and plasma samples from 50 patients with kala-azar were collected in Fars Province, Iran. The levels of complements C[3] and C[4], rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody [ANA], direct antiglobulin test [Coomb's test] and cold agglutinins were determined in these samples. The ANA, Coomb's test and cold agglutinins were negative in all patients. In 25% of the patients, C[3] population was reduced and in 42% [21 of 50] C[4] had increased, which was similar to the results of some reports, yet the opposite of others. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 34% [17 of 50] P< 0.0001 which indicates autoimmunity in the infantile type of kala-azar. The frequency of rheumatoid-factor seropositive patients in our study was less than in other reports. It is concluded that the age of the patient and/or the type of parasite in the infantile type of kala-azar may be an important factor in the production of autoantibodies