Open AccessEvidence for pseudomonas antigen in immune complexes in pseudomonas osteomyelitis
Author(s) -
Rahn Daniel W.,
Steere Allen C.,
Grodzicki Robert L.,
Levine Joseph H.,
Hardin John A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780251203
Subject(s) - pseudomonas , osteomyelitis , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , antigen , pseudomonas infection , pseudomonas aeruginosa , immunology , pseudomonadaceae , pseudomonadales , biology , medicine , bacteria , genetics
Abstract In infections associated with immune complex disease, microbial antigens have rarely been found in the complexes. Using an enzyme‐linked immunoassay, we studied the immune complexes of a patient who had hematogenous Pseudomonas aeruginosa osteomyelitis associated with palpable purpura, arthritis, and microscopic hematuria. After separation of the complexes into high and low molecular weight fractions, a 6hyphen;fold selective concentration of P aeruginosa antibody was found in the low molecular weight fraction compared with the concentration in the serum. Following disruption of immunoglobulin, the high molecular weight fraction competed with solid‐phase P aeruginosa antigen for P aeruginosa antibody from another source. After successful treatment of the infection, the patient's symptoms resolved, and the complexes disappeared. These findings strongly suggest that immune complexes in this patient contained P aeruginosa antigen and antibody that may have been pathogenetic in his disease.