01897nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653002600051653002400077653001600101653001100117653002100128653001200149653002500161653003000186653002000216100001300236700001400249700001800263700002200281245005500303856005700358300000900415490001500424520115400439022001401593       2008                            d  c200810aAntibodies, Bacterial10aAntigens, Bacterial10aGlycolipids10aHumans10aImmunoglobulin M10aleprosy10aMycobacterium leprae10aPredictive Value of Tests10aSerologic Tests1 aMoura RS1 aCalado KL1 aOliveira MLWD1 aBührer-Sékula S00aLeprosy serology using PGL-I: a systematic review.  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/rsbmt/v41s2/en_v41s2a04.pdf  a11-80 v41 Suppl 23 a<p>Serology using a species-specific antigen for Mycobacterium leprae, PGL-I, could be a marker for the bacterial load of patients with leprosy. Various studies have identified the potential use of serology in the classification of patients for treatment purposes, case monitoring, identification of the risk of relapse and selection of household contacts with a higher risk of contracting the disease. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and 26 articles were included in this comparative analysis. The results of the use of PGL-I serology in different situations, its limitations and possible applications were evaluated. Studies show the efficacy of PGL-I serology in the classification of patients, treatment monitoring and as a predictive test for leprosy reactions. To improve early diagnosis and follow-up of the population at greatest risk of developing leprosy, the methodologies used in the past have yet to show a favorable cost-benefit ratio, although studies indicate that the use of the test might positively influence leprosy control programs. With simple and robust techniques, the use of PGL-I serology is viable.</p>  a1678-9849