Increased Antibodies to IgG Fragments: Correlation with Infection due to Gram-Positive Bacteria

Abstract

The clinical and laboratory findings in 35 patients with severe infections and 102 patients who were selected for hyperglobulinemia were carefully reviewed and correlated with levels of serum agglutinators (antibodies to IgG Fab fragments) and rheumatoid factors (antibodies to IgG Fe fragments). Suppurative infections due to gram-positive cocci were found to be associated with high titers of serum agglutinators, whereas infections due to gram-negative bacilli, viruses, fungi, or mycoplasmas were not. Positive slide tests for rheumatoid factors were associated with hyperglobulinemia but not with severe infection.