title: IgG antibodies in early Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: The relationship between IgG antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its isolation from sputum was determined in 100 patients with cystic fibrosis observed at intervals of two months for a median period of one year. Only one patient had a raised antibody titre (greater than 22.9 ELISA units) before isolation of P aeruginosa. Initially 65 patients were antibody negative, of whom 48 were also culture negative. Of 24 patients with positive sputum culture and negative antibodies, seven became antibody positive at a median (range) 15 (6-25) months later. The remaining 17 patients continued antibody negative until the end of the study at a median range 15 (1-123) months after becoming culture positive. This latter group were younger and had more intermittently positive sputum cultures. In general positive IgG antibody titres do not predate isolation of P aeruginosa, but in some patients are present soon after acquisition of infection. A positive titre indicates significant exposure to P aeruginosa and could be used to detect infection in patients unable to produce sputum and possibly indicate the effect of early antipseudomonal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Unit, City Hospital, Nottingham.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cordon
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Elborn
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hiller
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G