[Dry erythrocytic diagnostic agent for the determination of antiglobulins].

This research is about an experimental dry erythrocytic diagnostic agent created for the purpose of identifying antiglobulins – antibodies that react against other antibodies – in humans and animals. The presence of these antiglobulins was studied in patients with tick-borne encephalitis who were treated with horse serum and human immunoglobulins.

Creation of the Diagnostic Agent

• Dry erythrocytic diagnostic agents were produced under experimental circumstances. These are intended for detecting antiglobulins which form in our bodies and animals due to the effect of serum preparations drawn from horse blood and identical (homologoum) immunoglobulins. This agent was developed with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the body’s immune response.

Study on Tick-borne Encephalitis Patients

• 100 patients suffering from tick-borne encephalitis were studied. These patients were treated using foreign (heterologous) and human-derived (homologous) immunoglobulins.
• The goal was to observe the body’s response, in terms of antiglobulin production, to these treatments.

Presence of Antiglobulins in Patients Treated with Horse Serum

• In response to the administration of horse gamma-globulin, antiglobulins appeared in the patients’ serum and circulated in their blood for extended periods. These antiglobulins had a potentially inhibitory effect on the buildup of antibodies against the causative agent (virus).
• In most cases, a high level of antiglobulins, which signifies a strong response against the foreign horse protein, was linked with the occurrence of delayed side-effects related to serum sickness-type reactions.

Presence of Antiglobulins in Patients Treated with Human Immunoglobulins

• In those patients treated with human-origin immunoglobulins, antiglobulins were found in low levels and disappeared from the bloodstream in 15—20 days. This suggests a more compatible, less reactive response when treated with human-based proteins.
• Furthermore, these antiglobulins did not impede the buildup of antihemagglutinins, antibodies that clump or agglutinate, to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. This suggests that these antibodies could be free to combat the disease effectively.