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Salie MT, Rampersadh K, Muhamed B, Engel KC, Zühlke LJ, Dale JB, Engel ME. Utility of Human Immune Responses to GAS Antigens as a Diagnostic Indicator for ARF: A Systematic Review. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:691646. [PMID: 34355030 PMCID: PMC8329041 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.691646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have established that streptococcal antibody titer is correlated with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). However, results vary in the usefulness of GAS antibodies, particularly anti-streptolysin-O (ASO) and anti-DNase B, in confirming a recent GAS infection. Therefore, we sought to provide, from published studies, an evidence-based synthesis of the correlation of streptococcal serology to establish the usefulness of immunological data in aiding the diagnosis of ARF. These findings are anticipated to have implications where echocardiography is not freely available, especially where ARF is rampant. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across a number of databases. Applying a priori criteria, we selected articles reporting on studies, regardless of study design, that evaluate the levels of antibodies against GAS-specific antigens in ARF subjects against control values or a published standard. Data were extracted onto data extraction forms, captured electronically, and analyzed using Stata software. Risk of bias was assessed in included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results and Conclusion: The search strategy yielded 534 studies, from which 24 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on evaluation of titers for SLO (n = 10), DNase B (n = 9), anti-streptokinase (ASK) (n = 3) amongst others. Elevation in titers was determined by comparison with controls and upper limit of normal (ULN) antibody values as determined in healthy individuals. Meta-analysis of case-controlled studies revealed moderate odds ratio (OR) correlations between ARF diagnosis and elevated titers for SLO (OR = 10.57; 95% CI, 3.36-33.29; 10 studies) and DNAse B (OR = 6.97; 95% CI, 2.99-16.27; 7 studies). While providing support for incorporating SLO and DNase B in the diagnosis of ARF, we present the following reflections: an elevation in SLO and DNase B levels are not consistently associated with an ARF diagnosis; increasing the number of GAS proteins in the test is warranted to improve sensitivity; paired (acute and convalescent) samples could provide a more accurate indication of a rising titer. Use of community-based controls as a standard is not a reliable marker by which to gauge recent GAS infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Taariq Salie
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kimona Rampersadh
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Babu Muhamed
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Cardiology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kélin C Engel
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Liesl J Zühlke
- Children's Heart Disease Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - James B Dale
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Mark E Engel
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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