Clinical evaluation, in the field of pediatrics, of a microagglutination test for research on anti-polysaccharide antibodies of a group of Streptococcus pyogenes
Razon-Veronesi, S.; Bastia, A.; Triberti, P.
Bollettino dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese 61(1): 29-43
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2547 PMID: 6751350 Document Number: 191862
The diagnostic and prognostic utility of a new microagglutination test for the evaluation of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide are evaluated in different streptococcal and post-streptococcal diseases. The basal titers of a group of 834 children from 1 to 12 years old non affected with apparent or recent streptococcal infections are examined to establish the normal values related to age. From this study, it results the diagnostic utility of the test especially in pharyngotonsillar, pulmonary, pyodermitic, adenitic, glomerulonephritic infections and in the Schoenlein-Henoch syndrome. Particularly in little children, even under 1 year old, the antigenic stimulation of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide is very good, on the contrary at this age the anticorpoiesis against streptococcal extracellular antigens is not very efficacious. Persistence beyond a year of elevated values of antipolysaccharide antibodies are observed in rheumatic disease with carditis and also in rheumatic disease without carditis, in glomerulonephritis and in common streptococcal infections in 11.1-68% of cases. The possible prognostic significance of these data is discussed.