[Clinical evaluation on the detection of rifampicin specific IgG, IgM]

Using RFP-BSA as antigen, an ELISA was established to detect RFP specific IgG/IgM in the serum of 128 RFP treated patients. The results showed that RFP specific IgG/IgM could not be detected either in tuberculosis patients or healthy controls as long as the subjects were RFP free. A small number of positive results (8%) could be found in the RFP treated patients without reactions. In RFP treated patients with untoward reactions, RFP specific IgG/IgM had a high positive rate (39.3%, P < 0.05). The reactions of the positive serum could be inhibited significantly by the addition of RFP, RFP-RSA but not by RSA. In 7 patients that RFP rechallenge test was performed the result of RFP Specific-IgG/IgM was in concordance with clinical test. The results showed that this method was specific for the detection of RFP specific IgG/IgM and at least a part of RFP adverse reactions may have some relation with RFP specific IgG/IgM.