title: Tropical pyomyositis: is it an immunodeficiency disease?
abstract: Serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) and complement (C3, C4) levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique in a group of 16 Nigerian patients with tropical pyomyositis (TP). Sixteen healthy Nigerians, age- and sex-matched with the patients, were also included in the study as control subjects (CS). A significantly low level of circulating IgM (P less than 0.01) and elevation of the serum levels of IgG (P less than 0.01) and IgA (P less than 0.01) were observed in TP compared to CS. Mean serum complement (C3, C4) levels were found to be similar in patients and controls. Microbiological culture tests showed that 14 pus specimens (88%) and 3 blood specimens (19%) from the patients were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. It was therefore proposed that IgM antibody deficiency (primary or acquired) against S. aureus may be the cause of tropical pyomyositis in Nigerians.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000172:deficiency; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000172:deficiency; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency; D017099:IgG Deficiency; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000172:deficiency; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000172:deficiency*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology*; D009549:Nigeria
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins