Group A Streptococcal Antibodies in Subjects with or without Rheumatic Fever in Areas with High or Low Incidences of Rheumatic Fever

• DOI: 10.1128/cdli.10.5.886-890.2003
• Publication Date: 2003-09-09T17:05:04Z
• Authors: Elia M. Ayoub; Beverly Nelson; Stanford T. Shulman; Douglas J. Barrett; J. Douglas Campbell; George Armstrong; John Lovejoy; Gerald H. Angoff; Sol Rockenmacher
• Keywords: Antibody titer; Acute rheumatic fever

ABSTRACT The levels of streptococcal antibody titers in populations with or without rheumatic fever from an area a relatively high incidence and low this disease were compared. Streptococcal determined for two populations, each which included children (nonrheumatic children) patients. derived separate geographic areas, one (Grenada) another (central Florida). results revealed absence consistent differences the geometric mean between nonrheumatic subjects patients Grenada. In population Grenada, anti-streptolysin O anti-DNase B higher controls ( P 0.085 0.029, respectively). However, titer to group A cell wall carbohydrate was than = 0.047). This finding contrasted that means all three significantly those Florida 0.01-<0.001). reason paradoxical became evident when Grenada compared, revealing antibodies < 0.001). These suggest individuals have inordinately elevated serum. presence such population, probably reflects background prevalence infections, should be taken into consideration evaluating role streptococcus nonpurulent complications infections.