Chlamydia trachomatis as an aetiological agent in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis

The sera of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] diagnosed clinically and laboratory by positive latex test for rheumatoid factor were further subjected to Rose Waaler test to confirm the diagnosis. Using ELISA technique IgG antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis, [CT] were not detected in the positive Rose Waaler samples [42 samples]. It was concluded that CT most probably is not involved in the etiology of seropositive RA in Egypt

Serum, intestinal and faecal IgA in giardiasis

The subjects of this study comprised 20 unselected patients with giardiasis and 15 adults suffering from mild bowel upset but with no evidence of any infection were taken as the control group. All patients and controls were subjected to estimation of serum, intestinal and faecal IgA. Levels of serum IgA of the patients were modestly but not significantly higher than that of the control group. Whereas the intestinal and faecal IgA were found to be significantly increased at the 5% level when compared to the control group. This increase could be due to the local formation of IgA by the duodeno-jejunal mucosa

Staining patterns of ANA on human epithelial [HEP-2] cell line versus mouse kidney [MK] substrate by indirect immunofluorescence

One hundred random serum samples referred to Ain Shams University Hospitals were subjected to ANA determination by indirect immunofluorescence on two different substrates: Mouse Kidney [MK] and human epithelial [HEP-2] cell line. Results on the two substrates used showed good correlation as regards the positivity of the test. Concerning the patterns observed, only two of the negative samples on MK substrate proved to be positive [nucleolar] on HEP-2 cell line. Another sample showed speckled pattern on MK substrate and appeared as anticentromere on HEP-2 cell line. The results indicate that the use of more than one substrate for ANA determination by indirect immunofluorescence technique may help in the diagnosis of various connective tissue diseases particularly those reported as ANA negative SLE patients. Detection of the unique patterns as anticentromere and antinucleolar are only achieved by using the cell lines as substrates

Circulating immune complexes in schistosomiasis

Fifty patients with schistosomiasis selected from the outpatient clinic of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals as well as twenty controls were the subject of this study. Estimation of serum complement components C3 and C4 by radial immunodiffusion and measurement of circulating immune complexes [CIC] by ELISA technique showed a significant increase in C3 and CIC in patients than controls. The differences between C3, C4 and CIC levels of patients with and without proteinuria were not significant. The presense of CIC could be regarded as a cause of schistosomal nephropathy

T cell function: leukocyte migration inhibition [MIF] and T cell subsets in chronic liver diseases

Thirty six patients with chronic liver diseases and twenty controls with comparable sex and age were selected from outpatients clinic of general medicine, Ain Shams University Hospital. They were subjected to enumeration of total T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subsets and assay of leucocyte migration inhibition factor. Results showed significant decrease in total T-lymphocytes, and T-helper lymphocytes with significant increase in T-suppressor lymphocytes. In vitro study of T-lymphocyte function showed significant decrease in MIF reflected by decrease in percentage inhibition of migration

B2-microgolubulin [B2-M] levels in relation to anti-n-DNA detection in SLE patients

Twenty Samples from known systemic lupus erythematosis [SLE] patients received at Ain Shams University Hospitals were subjected to determination of anti n-DNA by indirect immunofluore-scence technique and determination of serum B2-m by ELISA technique. Results showed that 80% [12] of samples with positive anti n-DNA [15] had increased level of B2-m [above 3 mg/1]. However, only 66.6% [10 samples] showed renal function impairement. Significant positive correlation was detected between serum B2-m and serum creatinine in samples with positive anti n-DNA [active SLE]. It was concluded that the use of serum B2-m level as a marker for lupus nephritis in association with serum creatinine and anti n-DNA titre can be beneficial