Circulating prothymosin alpha and immunoglobulin G3 in acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: a case-control study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Introduction
The lack of specific diagnostic tests for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its consequence rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a key barrier to effective control of these diseases in low resource settings.
Methods
We used immunoassays to evaluate blood prothymosin alpha (PTA) and immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) in patients with ARF, RHD and controls using serum samples from Pakistan and plasma samples from Uganda.
Results
Across both sets of samples, we found total IgG3 was significantly elevated in definite ARF (n = 24) compared to controls (n = 36), possible ARF (n = 15) and chronic RHD (n = 11). Whether measured in serum or plasma, PTA levels were similar across these groups.
Discussion
Our findings conflict with a previous report that found PTA was elevated in RHD compared to healthy controls. In contrast, while less marked than before, we found IgG3 was elevated in ARF, extending this observation to settings where the impact of RHD is greatest.
The lack of specific diagnostic tests for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its consequence rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a key barrier to effective control of these diseases in low resource settings.
Methods
We used immunoassays to evaluate blood prothymosin alpha (PTA) and immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) in patients with ARF, RHD and controls using serum samples from Pakistan and plasma samples from Uganda.
Results
Across both sets of samples, we found total IgG3 was significantly elevated in definite ARF (n = 24) compared to controls (n = 36), possible ARF (n = 15) and chronic RHD (n = 11). Whether measured in serum or plasma, PTA levels were similar across these groups.
Discussion
Our findings conflict with a previous report that found PTA was elevated in RHD compared to healthy controls. In contrast, while less marked than before, we found IgG3 was elevated in ARF, extending this observation to settings where the impact of RHD is greatest.
Date Issued
2025-11-01
Date Acceptance
2025-09-26
Citation
American Heart Journal Plus, 2025, 59
ISSN
2666-6022
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
American Heart Journal Plus
Volume
59
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
100630
Date Publish Online
2025-09-29