Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the antibody response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A, elastase, alkaline protease and phospholipase C in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Only the chronically colonized patients showed elevated antibody titres to phospholipase C (22/22 patients), alkaline protease (16/22 patients), exotoxin A (15/22 patients) and elastase (5/22 patients). In a few patients where serial specimens were available, rising titres were recorded to all four antigens during periods of active infection. Antibiotic treatment resulted in decrease of titres against all four antigens, but only the anti-exotoxin A and anti-elastase titres decreased to normal levels. Titres to phospholipase C were the least influenced by antibiotic treatment. The results imply different roles for these exoproteins in chronic colonization versus active infection. The levels of P. aeruginosa antibodies to exoproteins could probably be used in monitoring treatment of patients with CF.
Men suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) are considered to be infertile because of azoospermia. In testicular biopsies from two patients with CF normal spermatogenesis was found despite the absence of sperm in the ejaculate. Fructose and prostaglandin were not detectable in the semen whereas the levels of acid phosphatase and zinc were within normal limits, indicating normal prostatic function and absence of seminal vesicles. These findings may improve the possibility for male patients with CF to father a child.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for IgG antibody determination to teichoic acid and alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus in 65 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). In patients chronically colonized with S. aureus, elevated titres to teichoic acid were found in 13/35 (37%) patients, to alpha-toxin in 12/35 (34%) and to either antigen in 18/35 (51%). Patients with elevated titres to teichoic acid had a significantly lower X-ray score than patients with normal titres. The highest titres against both teichoic acid and alpha-toxin were seen in patients not receiving optimal treatment. These findings suggest that staphylococci contribute to the tissue damage in CF and that the determination of antibodies especially to staphylococcal teichoic acid might be of value in the diagnosis and management of staphylococcal infections in patients with CF.
Five men with cystic fibrosis delivered semen samples which were analysed for the content of the four main groups of prostaglandins (PGs). No PGs could be found in any of the specimens. The results of the present study provide further evidence that the seminal vesicles constitute the dominant site of production of PGs in human semen.
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