CIRCULATING IGG (7S) HEMAGGLUTININS IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

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Abstract
Circulating IgG hemagglutinins to tuberculin PPD [purified protein derivative] were measured by the bisdiazotized benzidine technique in the serum of patients with active and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, other pulmonary and nonpulmonary diseases, and in healthy control subjects. As a method for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis, the procedure has a major advantage over previously reported serologic techniques in that no false-positive reactions are found in healthy subjects and the incidence of "biologic" false-positives is less than 3%. However, the IgG hemagglutination test is not positive in all patients with active disease, and may remain positive after the disease has become inactive. Therefore, a positive reaction combined with suggestive chest roentgenographic findings in a patient who has not had antituberculous therapy constitutes strong presumptive evidence for active pulmonary tuberculosis, but a negative reaction under similar circumstances is of no diagnostic significance. The test would appear to have its greatest clinical application in the differentiation between moderately or far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, and nontuberculous pulmonary disease that presents with a similar roentgenologic appearance.