An easy method for detection of rheumatic antigen(s) in rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease patients by dot-ELISA.

BACKGROUND

Various monoclonal antibodies developed against human B cell alloantigen have different positivity in different population groups around the world. Thus, monoclonal antibody D8/17, found to be 100% specific for rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) patients from New York, identified only 62% to 68% in the north Indian population.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A battery of monoclonal antibodies against B cell alloantigen was developed in Indian RF/RHD patients. A total of 50 patients and 25 controls were studied.

RESULTS

These antibodies, named PG-12A, -13A and -20A, demonstrate more specificity in north Indian patients. In dot-ELISA, these antibodies correctly show the presence of the marker in 84% of RHD and 90% of recurrence of rheumatic activity patients.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that different alloantigens are expressed in the north Indian population. This standardized dot-ELISA is low cost and simple to use, and has a very high percentage of sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value for this population.