IGM AND IGG ANTIBODY LEVELS TO AMPICILLIN IN PATIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 214-221
Abstract
By a sensitive radio-immunoassay an antibody-like activity against ampicillin was detected in IgM[immunoglobulin M] and IgG fractions of patients with infectious mononucleosis, being 15 times the level (for IgM) and 6 1/2 times the level (for IgG) of control subjects. Such ampicillin antibody occurred without obvious relation to prior therapy with ampicillin. This antibody, which may originate in a similar manner to Paul-Bunnell antibody, was nevertheless immunologically unrelated. The ampicillin rash in infectious mononucleosis may result from a disseminated reaction of the small blood vessels to circulating ampicillin-antibody complexes.