Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1994-6-1
pubmed:abstractText
In sera from 476 diabetic outpatients, positive reaction in the Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption (FTA-Abs) test, a commonly used serological test for syphilis, was found in 36 of the patients. None of 100 healthy control subjects were positive in the FTA-Abs test. Additional treponemal and nontreponemal tests confirmed the diagnosis of syphilis in only three of the diabetic patients. In 10 of the 36 patients, the positive FTA-Abs reactivity appeared to be due to cross-reactivity between the treponemal antigen and Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme borreliosis. In the remaining 23 patients (5%), no other explanation for a false-positive FTA-Abs reactivity was found besides diabetes. Diabetic patients with false-positive FTA-Abs reactivity had similar degree of long-term metabolic control and prevalence of islet cell antibodies (ICA) as well as late diabetic complications as FTA-Abs negative diabetic patients, matched regarding to sex, age, type, and duration of diabetes. In conclusion, false-positive FTA-Abs reactivity is not rare in diabetic patients. The reason for this phenomenon is unknown, but could be a sign of autoimmunity of its own. Hence, in diabetic patients with FTA-Abs test indicating syphilis, the diagnosis must be verified with a combination of other tests.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1056-8727
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
8
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
57-62
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Adolescent, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Blood Donors, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Child, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Child, Preschool, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Cross Reactions, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Diabetes Mellitus, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Diabetic Nephropathies, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Diabetic Neuropathies, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Diabetic Retinopathy, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-False Positive Reactions, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Female, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Lyme Disease, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Male, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Reference Values, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Sex Factors, pubmed-meshheading:8167389-Syphilis Serodiagnosis
pubmed:articleTitle
False-positive treponemal serology in patients with diabetes mellitus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Stockholm County Council Central Microbiological Laboratory, Sweden.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't