[Antibody coated bacteria in the urine: a specific test for pyelonephritis (author's transl)]

Three groups of subjects have been studied: the first group with sterile urine, the second with significant bacteriuria without antibody-coated bacteria and the third with significant bacteriuria with antibody-coated. IgG, IgA, IgM and transferrin were determined by immunological methods (partigen plates). The antibody coating was determined by immunofluorescence. Subcultures were prepared from the urine samples containing bacteria. The bacteria obtained from the subcultures were then incubated with the original urine which had been sterilised by passing through a filter. These were then treated with AH-IgG containing fluorescein. Serum was taken from several patients and incubated with the bacteria from the subcultures. These were also treated with AH-IgG fluorescein. In no case could specific antibodies against the infecting organisms be found, although IgG in the urine were elevated and specific antibodies were present in the serum. This leads to the conclusion that specific antibodies are formed by direct tissue contact of the bacteria and that coating is not established in the urine itself.