Lipid A antibody determinations using ELISA on patients at a children's hospital: a preliminary report.

Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we studied the IgG and IgM antibody titers in various groups of pediatric patients (n = 81) infected with gram-negative organisms. Unlike the control group (n = 12), IgG antibodies were detected in only five (all under four months of age) of 19 children with sepsis. We assume that either the IgG antibodies are used up during the infection, or the lack of IgG antibodies results in a disposition to sepsis; the latter is more probable. Seventeen of 18 patients with urinary tract infections and proven renal involvement were IgM-positive. This indicates a permanent antigen stimulus, possibly in the form of a fixed antigen complex. Because of the heterogeneity of the groups studied, no overall statements can be made for the 93 children studied, some of whom were studied repeatedly. These children included 17 with tracheal colonization, 17 with recurrent urinary tract infections without proven renal changes and six with wound infections.