Immunologic responses against lipopolysaccharide of Hemophilus influenzae in patients with acute sinusitis.

The serum antibodies against lipopolysaccharide of Hemophilus influenzae were measured in acute and convalescent phase sera from 30 patients with acute maxillary sinusitis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of antibodies in the maxillary antral secretions were also measured. In convalescent phase sera from 15 patients with acute sinusitis due to H influenzae, there was a threefold, 1.5-fold, and threefold increase in the geometric mean titers of IgG, IgM, and IgA, respectively. In antral secretions, titers were significantly higher (p less than .01) in culture-positive patients than in culture-negative patients for all antibodies. These data indicate that the immune system has the ability to respond systemically and locally with specific antibodies against lipopolysaccharide of H influenzae.