Streptococcal fibrinolysin (streptokinase): A study of this substance and its antibody in group A hemolytic streptococcus sore throat

Abstract

1. 1. A large number of group A hemolytic streptococcal respiratory infections in young men have been studied. 2. 2. No relationship was discovered between any clinical feature of the disease or its complications and the ability of the infecting hemolytic streptococcus to form fibrinolysin in vitro. 3. 3. The serum concentration of antifibrinolysin was low in 90 per cent of the subjects at the onset of their infection. 4. 4. An increase in antibody of significant magnitude had occurred in 35 per cent of these patients by the fourth week after the onset of acute respiratory illness. 5. 5. An antibody response occurred more frequently when the respiratory disease was severe or when a suppurative or nonsuppurative complication supervened.