Serological markers

The etiology and pathogenesis of rosacea are not well established and there are no histologic or serologic markers for the disease. 

Monitor elevated serologic markers (non-treponemal exams) for reduction. Given effective treatment, clinical features will usually disappear after 6 months. On this basis, evaluate seropositive infants periodically for at least 6 months.14... 

Interpret and understand the utility of the screening tests and serologic markers for diagnosing ovarian cancer. 

Fahey, J. L et al. (1990). The prognostic value of cellular and serologic markers in infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. N. Engl. J. Med. 322,166-172. 

Lock RJ, Stevens S, Pitcher MC, Unsworth DJ. Is immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody a reliable serological marker of coeliac disease Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2004 16 467 470. 

Voltz R, Gultekin SH, Rosenfeld MR, Gerstner E, Eichen J, Posner JB, et al. A serologic marker of paraneoplastic limbic and brain-stem encephalitis in patients with testicular cancer. N Engl J Med 1999 340(23) 1788-1795. 

Some serological markers have been used as prognostic determinants, such as ferritin, erythropoetin, calcium and renin. These markers include the proliferating cell nuclear antigen Ki-67, specific cytogenetic alterations, P-glycoprotein, p53... 

Dotan I, Fishman S, Dgani Y, Schwartz M, Karban A, Lerner A, Weishauss O, Spector L, Shtevi A, Altstock RT, Dotan N, Halpern Z. Antibodies against laminaribioside and chitobioside are novel serologic markers in Crohn s disease. Gastroenterology 2006 131 366-378. 

Virus RNA is infectious. HAV multiplies within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Approximately 2 to 3 weeks after infection, the viruses appear in the stool, but disappear after 4 to 5 weeks, thereby terminating the infec-tivity. As of the 4 week, HAV antibodies (anti-HAV) of the IgM and IgG type appear in the serum as serological markers, (s. fig. 5.5) Acute hepatitis A has a high IgM titre, whereas an infection occurring several months earlier can be recognized by a high IgG titre. Once the infection has been overcome, the elevated IgG titre remains for life. Immunity is permanent. Renewed rises in titre (= booster effect) are possible after reeurrent HAV contacts. The HAV vaccine induces equal IgM and IgG immune responses. By means of quantitative determination of the total anti-HAV, it is possible, for example, to differentiate between passive immunization and (acute or past) HAV infection. HAV RNA can be detected with the help of hybridization tests, and HAV with the help of PCR. (101, 109, 119) (see chapter 22.3 )... 

Tab. 5.18 Serological markers allow differentiation of hepatitis B infection (s. fig. 5.9) (s. tab. 5.17)...

Kunches, L.M., Craven, D.E., Werner, B.G., Jacobs, LJM. Hepatitis B exposure in emergency medical personnel. Prevalence of serologic markers and need for immunization. Amer. X Med. 1983 75 269-272... 

In order to increase the sensitivity of screening, so as to minimize the so-called window period during which serological markers will not detect the infectivity marker, methods of detecting nucleic acids from, for example, the virus particle have been developed. Hepatitis C virus nucleic acid testing is obligatory in Europe, the USA, and Japan, and in many countries nucleic acid testing for other viruses has also been implemented. There is nevertheless no doubt that in future PCR-based methods will further increase the safety of blood and blood products. 

Positive serological markers of autoimmune hepatitis before treatment in patients with concomitant chronic hepatitis C are sometimes associated with further exacerbation of an underlying autoimmune liver disease during interferon alfa treatment. Of three patients with raised antimitochondrial antibodies (over 1 160), only the two patients with M2 (with or without M4 or M8) subtypes had biochemical exacerbation of cholestasis and an unfavorable response to interferon alfa (255). Although very few patients were investigated, determination of antibodies against submitochondrial particles may help to identify patients who are likely to have no benefit and even exacerbation of liver disease with interferon alfa. 

After piroxicam intake and sun exposure a patient with Sjogren s syndrome developed the typical cutaneous lesions and serological markers of systemic lupus erythematosus, despite drug withdrawal (16). 

The Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study is a major effort to determine the role of chronic HBV infection in the evolution of hepatocellular carcinomas. Vaccinated children are being followed-up for serological markers of HBV infection and, later in life, the occurrence of liver tumors. This is a longterm study, but the agency is committed to lead this important work to a successful conclusion. 

AndriuUi A, Festa V, Leandro G, Rizzetto M. Usefulness of a liver biopsy in the evaluation of patients with elevated ALT values and serological markers of hepatitis viral infection An AIGO study. Dig Dis Sci 2001 46 1409-15. 

Few new data on hepatitis B infection are available and thus are not presented here. Prevalence of total anti-bodies is not a satisfactory measure as it reflects vaccination as well as past, current or chronic infection. However, numbers of injectors with no hepatitis B antibodies indicate a population at risk who would benefit from vaccination. Those who remain infectious can be identified using a specific serological marker (hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg). Data on levels of HBsAg will be included in future annual reports. 

Infection by H. pylori is detected by serological markers produced by host immune responses (e.g., antibodies to antigens of H. pylori) and a breath test. The latter, known as the urea breath test, consists of oral administrations of radioactively labeled urea. This is metabolized to labeled CO2 and ammonia by the urease of H. pylori present in the gastric mucosa. The presence of labeled CO2 measured in the exhaled air confirms infection. 

Other evaluated serological markers from the melanogenesis pathway include the phaeomelanin metabohte S-S-CD (see Ref. 5 for an review of 5-S-CD in melanoma with 2648 samples taken from 218 patients) and to a lesser extent the eumelanin metabohte 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxyhc acid. Since 5-S-CD is very sensitive to light and oxidation, analysis requires immediate centrifugation, freezing of the samples after blood collection and exclusion of light and air-oxygen. 

Pilotto, A., Di Mario, F., Franceschi, M., Leandro, G., Soffiati, G., Scagnelli, M., Bozzola, L., and Valerio, G. (1996). Cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in the elderly Effects of eradication on gastritis and serological markers. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 10, 1021—1027. 

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