Quantification of serum IgA of coeliac disease patients

Celiac disease [CD] is a gluten - induced multi - organ disorder where small intestine is the primary target of inflammation. Onset of CD may occur at any age and its symptoms vary among individuals. Definitive diagnosis of CD is by intestinal biopsy but determination of anti - IgA tissue transglutaminase [tTG] and anti-gliadin antibodies has become key factors to decide for tissue biopsy. IgA - deficient CD patients may yield false - negative results, therefore total serum IgA level must be determined along with other serological markers to diagnose CD. The study included 42 CD patients who were positive for anti-tTg antibodies [Group A] and 40 subjects [Group B: disease control] presented with gastrointestinal complaints but were negative for anti-tTG antibodies. On the basis of age, Group A was further divided into: Sub-group- I comprised of patients between 1-6 years [n = 31] and Sub-group - II consisted of patients between 7-15 years [n=11]. Level of serum IgA was determined by nephlometry technique. Total serum IgA level was 38.77 +/- 31.21 mg/dl and 26.88 +/- 28.27 mg/ dl in CD patients and disease control group respectively and the difference in the level of serum IgA between these groups was not statistically significant [p=0.75]. Mean IgA level in sub-group -I and sub-group- II was 40.85 +/- 33.29 mg/dl and 32.92 +/- 24.85 mg/dl respectively and the difference in the level of serum IgA between these sub-groups was not statistically significant [p = 0.47]. In Group - A, mean level of IgA in males and females was 42.38 +/- 38.02 mg/dl and 34.41 +/- 20.36 mg/dl respectively and the difference in the level of IgA level was not statistically significant between these groups [p = 0.41]. Selective IgA deficiency [SIgAD] was found in CD and in patients of other gastrointestinal complaints. In order to detect CD in SIgAD, total serum IgA level should also be performed with IgG - antigliadin or IgG-anti-tTG antibodies

Detection of anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies in healthy subjects

Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] are Gram - negative microaerophilic, spiral organisms. Factors such as family history of gastric disease, source of drinking water, number of siblings, sharing beds, and level of hygiene have been linked to acquisition of H. pylori infection. Most of the infected people do not have clinical symptoms. The study was planed to determine the level of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in the serum of healthy individuals. The study included 80 healthy subjects and was conducted in the Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences Lahore. The studied population was divided on the basis of [a] eating food from outside home daily, twice a week or once a week, [b] using filtered or tap water for drinking, and [c] having family history of gastric ulcer or without family history of gastric ulcer. Level of anti H.pylori IgG antibody was determined by ELISA technique. Among 80 asymptomatic healthy individuals anti-H pylori IgG antibody was detected in 28 [35% subjects who did not have these antibodies [p-value < 0.001]. Mean level of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies was 43 +/- 39.3 U/ml, 30.7 +/- 37.3 U/ml and 14.9 +/- 19.7 U/ml in subjects eating food from outside their homes once a week, twice a week and daily respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed in the level of H. pylori antibodies with different eating habits [p = 0.015]. However no statistically significant difference was observed in the level of anti-H. pylori antibodies between two genders, individuals using tap water and filtered water for drinking and with family history of gastric ulcer

Percentage of CD4[+] and CD8[+] T-lymphocytes in blood of tuberculosis patients

Tuberculosis is a fatal infectious disease, mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Spread of TB is controlled by cell-mediated immunity. Purpose of this study was to determine CD4[+] and CD8[+] T cell percentages in TB patients. 77 subjects consisted of 39 patients of active tuberculosis and 37 normal healthy individuals were recruited for the study. Among patients, 27 were at different stages of anti-tuberculous therapy while rests of the patients were not taking treatment. Sixteen patients were sputum positive for AFB while other patients were sputum negative for AFB. T cells percentages were determined by flow cytometer. In TB patients CD4[+] and CD8[+] T cells percentages were 34.4 +/- 9.8 and 32.0 +/- 9.8 while in controls these were 37.1 +/- 6.9 and 30.2 +/- 7.2 respectively but the difference was statistically insignificant. CD4[+] T cell percentage in newly diagnosed TB patients was 28.8 +/- 8.7 while it was 37.9 +/- 8.9 in TB patients who were on therapy and difference was statistically significant whereas difference in CD8[+] T-cell percentages was statistically insignificant. A negative correlation between CD8[+] Tcells percentage and the duration of ATT was found. CD4[+] and CD8[+] T-cells percentages may help to find out the immune status of TB patients before and after the completion of ATT

Evaluation of four ELISA based immunoassays for the detection of IgM antibodies against dengue virus

Dengue fever is a problem of serious concern which is mainly transmitted by mosquito, Aedes aegypti. These days' different ELISA kits are used for the diagnosis of dengue fever. It was a validation study. Study was conducted in the Department of Immunology at University of Health Sciences, Lahore during the period of August 2009 to October 2009. In this study four ELISA kits [Human, Nova Tech, Vircell and DRG] were used to determine IgM antibodies against dengue fever in forty four patients who were labelled positive for dengue fever by different commercially available ELISA kits. Human ELISA kit gave most accurate results with respect to the agreement, sensitivity, specificity and K value. Human ELISA kit was found most reliable for the diagnosis of dengue fever