Published online Nov 25, 2016. doi: 10.5495/wjcid.v6.i4.67
Peer-review started: June 17, 2016
First decision: July 27, 2016
Revised: August 13, 2016
Accepted: October 25, 2016
Article in press: October 27, 2016
Published online: November 25, 2016
Processing time: 159 Days and 12.4 Hours
To evaluate the increase in diagnostic yield, by using IgA in addition to IgM, instead of IgM alone, in relation to the age of the patients.
The study considered 1067 blood samples from patients with clinical signs of lower respiratory tract infections, tested for anti-Mycoplasma IgG, IgM and IgA antibody.
The increase in diagnostic yield with IgA, compared to IgM detection alone was of 3.5% with statistically significant differences between age groups (0.8% for those equal/under 50 years of age and 4.3% for those over 50).
Our findings demonstrate that IgA detection lead to a twofold increase in the number of diagnoses among the older age groups, but it did not result in relevant increase among the younger age groups.
Core tip: Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection relies on IgM detection but also IgA can be searched. There are few data on the range of increase of diagnosis adding the search for the IgA. Detection of IgA (without IgM) increases diagnosis of 3.5% compared to the detection of IgM alone. The greater increase is for the patients older than 50 years. Detection of IgA antibodies could be included in laboratory routine only in older patients.