Evaluation of anti-phenolic glycolipid-I IgM and CD4/CD8 T cell subsets value as high risk determination indicator for individuals residing in a leprosy endemic area in Indonesia

This study reports the evaluation of the presence of IgM antibody to Phenolic Glycolipid-I (PGL-I) of M. leprae andT cell subsets (CD4 and CD|) count to determine the high risk to contract leprosy among individuals through a total PoPulntion survey in an area where leprosy is endemic, in IndonesiaAmong the 2349 individuals of the total population of 3074 people, the seropositive rates in general inhabitants and househald contacts were very high (40.2Vo and 50.4Vo, respectively). The mean CD4 and CD8 T cell subset caunt in general inhabitants was 849 t20 and 646 + 19, respectively. The mean of CD4 and CDB T cell subset count in household contacts was 785 ! t3 and 572 a 15, respectively. No statistically significant dffirences were found in peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 count between general inhabitants and household contacts. In general inhabitants the mean CD4 and CDB count showed significant diference between individuals with positive IgM antibodics to PGL-I compared to individuals with negative IgM antibodies to PGL-|. Although individuals with positive IgM antibodies to PGLI might not sufering clinical manifestation of leprosy, the frnding of positive IgM and law number of CD4 count srtil support the theory of a high risk to contact lepromatous leprosy.