AUTOANTIBODIES TO TAMM-HORSFALL PROTEIN ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN GIRLS

Girls with various forms of urinary tract infections (UTI) and a reference material were analyzed for autoantibodies in serum to the Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (TH). Such antibodies could be detected in all sera analyzed. In the subjects, cord blood contained very low Ig[immunoglobulin]A and IgM anti-TH, which increased significantly up to the age of 8 mo. The IgG anti-TH levels in cord blood correlated with maternal levels. After age 2 mo., the IgG anti-TH followed the anti-TH levels of the other Ig classes. Among the infants aged 2-7 mo. with acute UTI, no anti-TH increases were found. In girls more than 1 yr old with acute non-obstructive UTI, IgG and IgA anti-TH levels were significantly higher in those with acute pyelonephritis and reflux with or without parenchymal reduction than in those with acute pyelonephritis and normal radiologic findings. The latter group had significantly higher levels of IgG and IgA but not IgM anti-TH than did those with acute cystitis. Girls with renal parenchymal reduction but no signs of infection at the time of testing had significantly depressed anti-TH levels compared to control values.