title: [Serologic indices of the persistence of L forms of group A streptococci in patients with rheumatism].
abstract: A study of 1343 rheumatic patients has shown that during acute disease high titres of antibodies to streptococcus L forms were detected in 76%, and were declining rapidly with clinical improvement. In protracted rheumatism, high antibody titres were maintained constantly in 70%; those were mostly IgM, incapable of blocking L-form growth. The antigen of streptococcus L form was only detected in 18-25% of the patients, obviously because it was bound to circulating immune complexes in 64%. It is suggested that streptococcal L forms are capable of prolonged persistence in the body, affecting the course of disease in rheumatic patients; possible persistence of L forms as part of immune complexes is of particular importance.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goncharova
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gorina
authors.forename: Iu V
authors.initials: IuV
authors.lastname: Vul'fovich
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Zheverzheeva
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Labinskaia
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007740:L Forms / Q000276:immunology*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial
vernacular_title: Serologicheskie pokazateli persistentsii L-form streptokokka gruppy A u bol'nykh revmatizmom.