title: Study on serum transcobalamin II in patients with murine typhus.
abstract: We measured the serum transcobalamin II in murine typhus- infected patients (n = 16) admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in 1996-1997, compared with healthy controls (n = 60). The results showed that the transcobalamin II (TCII) and total serum unsaturated vitaminB12 binding capacity (UBBC) in patients with murine typhus (2,126.5 pg/ml, range 1,262-4,568 and 3,771.5 pg/ml, range 1,576-6,763 pg/ml) were statistically significantly higher than normal subjects (987.5 pg/ml, range 678-2,000 pg/ml and 1,402 pg/ml, range 932-2,470 ml) (p<0.001). Serum TCII levels in patients (63%) were elevated during the febrile period and returned to normal post-treatment. These findings suggest that patients with murine typhus had stimulation of reticulo-endothelial system, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and skin and then released TCII into the blood circulation. The elevation in TCII may be used for confirming a diagnosis of murine typhus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Radioisotopes, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. tmccr@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Cheeraratana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheeramakara
authors.forename: Kriyaporn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Songmeang
authors.forename: Wanyarat
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nakosiri
authors.forename: Nopachai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suthisai
authors.forename: Apichart
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nontprasert
authors.forename: Suvit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Areekul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014155:Transcobalamins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014437:Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014155:Transcobalamins