Elevation of serum transcobalamin II in patients with scrub typhus.
Serum transcobalamin II levels were measured in scrub typhus patients. Eighteen out of fifty-two patients admitted to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital were diagnosed with scrub typhus infection. The serum unsaturated vitamin B12 binding protein (UBBC) and total vitamin B12 binding protein (TBBC) levels in these patients were significantly higher than in normal subjects (p < 0.001). The mean serum transcobalamin II level in the typhus patients was also significantly higher than in the normal subjects (p=0.004). There was a significant correlation between serum TCII levels and typhus IgM or IgG titers (p < 0.05), but not to total IgM levels. These findings indicate that patients with scrub typhus had stimulation of the recticuloendothelial system as a result of a considerable increase in transcobalamin II levels.
Cheeramakara
Cheeraratana
C
Department of Tropical Radioisotopes, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. tmccr@mahidol.ac.th
Thanomsak
Wanyarat
W
Songmeang
Kriyaporn
K
Nontprasert
Apichart
A
Sanghirun
Charnnarong
C
Suthisai
Nopachai
N
Areekul
Suvit
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000276:immunology; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014155:Transcobalamins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014155:Transcobalamins