Serum C-reactive protein and neopterin concentrations in patients with viral or bacterial infection

Article Abstract:

C-reactive protein is a protein that is made by liver cells (hepatocytes). Under normal circumstances, small amounts of this protein are present in the blood. When inflammation or an infection occurs, more C-reactive protein is made, and the amount present in the blood increases within 24 to 48 hours. Blood levels of C-reactive protein have been used to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. The amount of C-reactive protein in the blood can be as much as 10 times greater during a bacterial infection than during a viral infection. Another protein called neopterin has been reported to be higher in patients with viral infections than in those with bacterial infections. It has been suggested that measuring the amount of C-reactive protein and neopterin in the blood may be more useful in diagnosing bacterial and viral infections than measuring the amount of C-reactive protein alone. To test this theory, both proteins were measured in blood samples taken from 88 patients with different types of infections, and from 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (a disease causing inflammation in the joints). Of the 88 patients, 30 had bacterial infections, 32 had viral infections, 13 had tuberculosis, and 13 had other types of infections. In addition, measurements were taken from 88 control subjects who were matched to the patients by sex and age. All of the patients with infections had blood levels of C-reactive protein and neopterin that were higher than normal. The blood levels of both C-reactive protein and neopterin were higher in the patients with bacterial infections than in those with tuberculosis, viral infections, or arthritis. Measuring the amounts of neopterin in the blood provided no additional useful data compared with C-reactive protein. It is concluded that testing for neopterin, which is costly and expensive, is no more useful than C-reactive protein measurements in diagnosing bacterial infections. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Virus diseases, Bacterial infections, C-reactive protein

---

Serum non-organ specific autoantibodies in human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection

Article Abstract:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is assumed to be the causative agent of AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and destroys a specific population of cells called T lymphocytes. People with HIV infection have a reduced ability to fight infection and are at risk for developing opportunistic infections that can be life-threatening. As HIV infection progresses, there is an abnormal activation and overproduction of B cells, which produce antibodies (immunoglobulins). This condition is called hypergammaglobulinemia. It is similar to what happens during autoimmunity (the abnormal production of antibodies, called autoantibodies, that attack and destroy the body's own tissues). To determine if the increase in antibody production caused by HIV infection is related to autoimmune phenomena, blood samples were analyzed from 66 patients who tested positive for the presence of HIV. Fifty-six of the patients were intravenous drug users, nine were homosexual men, and one was a child infected in utero. Cells taken from rat kidney and liver tissue were grown in culture. If autoantibodies to smooth muscle cells (antibodies that attack smooth muscle cells) are present in a patients' blood sample, then they will react with the rat kidney and liver cells. When the patients' blood samples were diluted and added to the rat cells, it was found that 50 percent of the blood samples contained autoantibodies to smooth muscle cells. It is concluded that patients with HIV can have autoantibodies in their blood, but the relationship between the abnormal production of B cells, observed in HIV patients, and the appearance of autoantibodies remains unclear. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Autoantibodies, Physiological aspects, HIV infection, HIV infections, HIV (Viruses), HIV

---

Use of leucocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score in differentiating malignant from benign paraproteinaemias

Article Abstract:

Paraproteinemia refers to a high concentration of abnormal proteins in the blood. Monoclonal gammopathy is a type of paraproteinemia that is common in elderly people and it causes large amounts of proteins called immunoglobulins to appear in the blood and urine. In a few severe cases, patients with monoclonal gammopathy may also have multiple myeloma (malignant tumors in the bone marrow). The more mild and benign form of the disease is called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). A diagnostic test that can distinguish between the malignant and benign forms of paraproteinemia is needed. The blood levels of an enzyme called leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP), an enzyme made in white blood cells, have been reported to be high when some types of tumors or infections are present and low when different types of tumors are present. Therefore, a study was performed to determine if malignant and benign forms of paraproteinemia can be distinguished by measuring the amount of LAP in the blood. Blood samples were collected from 18 patients with MGUS and 20 patients with multiple myeloma. The patients with MGUS had blood levels of LAP that were in the normal range. The patients with multiple myeloma had higher blood levels of LAP than those without this disease. It is concluded that patients with paraproteinemia who have normal blood levels of LAP are more likely to have a benign form of the disease. However, higher than normal levels of LAP do not necessarily mean that the disease is malignant. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Alkaline phosphatase, Multiple myeloma, Monoclonal gammopathies

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Serum and tissue magnesium concentrations in patients with heart failure and serious ventricular arrhythmias. The premature ventricular complex as a diagnostic aid
• Abstracts: Relation between rectal sensation and anal function in normal subjects and patients with faecal incontinence. Changes in rectal sensitivity after hypnotherapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
• Abstracts: Changes in rectal sensitivity after hypnotherapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Modulation of orocaecal transit time by hypnosis
• Abstracts: Serial immunocytologic analysis of blood for tumor cells in two patients with neuroblastoma. Survival analysis of 378 surgically treated cases of laryngeal carcinoma in South Sardinia
• Abstracts: Independent prognostic factors in patients with metastatic (stage D2) prostate cancer. The next era for prostate cancer: controlled clinical trials

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.