EVALUATION OF THE STREPTOCOCCAL DESOXYRIBO-NUCLEASE B AND DIPHOSPHOPYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDASE ANTIBODY TESTS IN ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER AND ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Abstract

Antibody titers for two recently described streptococcal antigens, desoxyribonuclease B (DNase B) and diphosphopyridine nucleotidase (DPNase) have been compared with antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers in patients with acute rheumatic fever, in patients with acute nephritis, and in normal controls. Like the ASO, elevated titers for the two new antibodies are commonly found in patients with complications of streptococcal infections. The titers for anti-DPNase tend to be higher in acute nephritis than in acute rheumatic fever. These two new anti-body tests are particularly useful in providing evidence of a preceding streptococcal infection in those patients with manifestations of acute rheumatic fever or acute nephritis who fail to show an elevated ASO titer.