Comparison of O antigen-specific urinary immunoglobulins to Escherichia coli in normal women and women prone to Escherichia coli cystitis.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured urine and serum levels of O antigen-specific IgA against Escherichia coli in five women prone to recurrent Esch. coli cystitis and in 20 normal women. Serial urine and serum samples were taken from the five women during Esch. coli infections and during uninfected intervals, while a single urine and serum sample was obtained from the 20 normal women. Elevation of any class of serum immunoglobulins for patients with uncomplicated Esch. coli cystitis was absent. A local antigen-specific immunological response, predominantly of the IgA class, was present during Esch. coli cystitis. There was no significant difference (P greater than 0.1) in the urinary or serum levels of any class of immunoglobulins between the recurrent cystitis group when uninfected and the normal women. There was a significant increase (P less than 0.001) in the levels of urinary IgA and secretory IgA during Esch. coli cystitis as compared with the same women when uninfected or with normal women. A deficiency in the local immunological response of women prone to recurrent Esch. coli cystitis is not supported by our data.