title: Detection of specific IgM antibodies for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections: a clinical evaluation.
abstract: The diagnostic value of detection of specific IgM antibodies was analysed in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. In a retrospective clinical and serological study, M. pneumoniae IgM antibodies were determined by a mu-capture ELISA using enzyme-labelled antigen. The study group consisted of 91 patients with significantly raised titers in paired sera or a single high titer of complement fixation antibodies. About 40% of the patients had been treated with antibiotics ineffective against M. pneumoniae infections prior to admission to hospital. Treatment with erythromycin or tetracycline was shown to give a shorter period of fever compared to if no or ineffective therapy was given. Specific IgM antibodies were detected in about 80% of sera sampled 9 days or more after onset of symptoms. In sera sampled at 7-8 days after onset IgM antibodies were found in about 40% of the sera but only occasionally in sera sampled earlier. In the age group 0-20 years 88% of the patients developed an IgM response. In the higher ages (greater than 60 years) a significantly lower rate of IgM responders was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vikerfors
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brodin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandien
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hirschberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krook
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pettersson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004917:Erythromycin; D013752:Tetracycline