Abstract
Platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) mediates the destruction of thrombocytes during the acute postinfectious thrombocytopenic purpura. Elevated levels of platelet associated IgM (PAIgM) are not uncommon in the course of this illness.
In our micro-ELISA system the normal range (x + 3 S.D.) in age matched controls has been 9.6 fg IgG and 4.4 fg IgM/platelet, respectively. Fever in 35 children (median age 6 years) was classified to be of viral origin 17 × ( ↗ PAIgG: 4, ↗ PAIgM: 3, ↗ both: 8), to be due to/bacterial infection 11 × ( ↗ PAIgG: 2, ↗ PAIgM: 3, ↗ both: 5), and to be of unknown aetiology 7 × ( ↗ PAIgG: 1, ↗ PAIgM: 5, ↗ both:1). In no group was any correlation between PAIgG and PAIgM. No child experienced a profound thrombocytopenia. The platelet count was best correlated with PAIgM in the bacterial group (r = -0.53) and with PAIgG in the viral infected children (r = -0.35).
We conclude that the thrombocyte is likely to be involved physiologically also in both viral and bacterial infections. It possibly acts as a vehicle to remove bacterial and viral antigens from circulation by means of both IgG and IgM antibodies.
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Forster, J., Zinn, P. & Maier, M. PLATELET ASSOCIATED IgG and IgM IN PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Pediatr Res 19, 1109 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00239
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00239