Abstract
We quantified anti-streptococcal esterase (ASE) using a commercially available new kit, based on the enzyme antigen-antibody reaction.
The results were as follow:
1) Upper limit of ASE titer in 621 children without infertion, aged 0 to 14 years was 300 ASE units.
2) There was no significant difference in positive rate of ASE among Henoch-Schönlein purpura, purpura nephritis, acute glomerular nephritis, rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, and the accordance rates with ASO titer were 66.7 to 91.6% among the above diseases.
3) In 19 cases with scarlet fever, one in acute phase and four in recovery phase had a positive ASE but ASO titer remained low in any phase.
4) According to serial quantification in scarlet fever, ASE titer was elevated significantly 1 to 2 weeks after infection.
5) ASE determination was useful as a serological diagnosis in earlier phase of streptococcal infection because the test is highly sensitive to trace amount of antibody.
6) Relationship between ASE titer and age-group, and elevation ratio of ASE in paired serum samples were discussed.
