Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Mixed with Tuberculoproteins

Abstract

It was demonstrated that the mixing of a small amount of serologically active tuberculoproteins with citrated blood from tuberculous patients markedly changed its erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The protein sample was isolated from mechanically disintegrated human tubercle bacilli in native and consequently in serologically active state, as frequently reported. This effect was studied in 102 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with reference to their clinical condition. The mixing of protein caused elevation of the ESR in many patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This action could not be recognized for the protein such as PPD, CRP. On the contrary the same procedure lowered the ESR of the blood from patients at the onset of very active tuberculosis. Similar but much milder effect was noted with blood from hopeless cases. In nontuberculous patients, this effect could not be observed. This peculiar phenomenon was explained as that large-sized antigen-antibody complexes in the circulation should enhance the rouleaux arrangement of human red cells and consequently accelerate rapid setting of them in the plasma.