Identificação de imunoglobulina G em pacientes portadores de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico expostos ao Ascaris lumbricoides

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune, rheumatological disease that affects several organs, causing various symptoms such as dermatological changes, kidney dysfunction, joint pain and persistent tiredness. Conventional treatment for this disease includes the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs that reduce the immune response, to reduce autoimmunity, but weaken the entire immune system. Human ascariasis, in turn, is a parasitic infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, a geohelminth that can be transmitted from ingestion of food contaminated with embryonated eggs of the parasite. In view of these two extremely important diseases, this study sought to assess whether there is a difference in the clinical condition of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, according to the antigenic exposure of A. lumbricoides. Data analysis could be performed based on the identification of anti-A. lumbricoids immunoglobulin G; an antibody that evidences previous exposure or contact with the pathogen. The study patients were admitted to two experiments to collect socioeconomic information and physical conditions. In addition, blood samples were collected, with which sera were obtained for carrying out immunoenzymatic assays and detection of anti-A. lumbricoides immunoglobulins G by ELISA. It was not possible to observe differences in the clinical condition of patients with lupus, according to exposure to A. lumbricoides antigens.