The Quantum Blue® (Bühlmann Laboratories AG) Rapid Test identifies increased levels of S100A8/A9 in saliva and serum of patients with peritonsillar abscess

Introduction:

Increased S100A8/A9 (Calprotectin) levels can serve as a biomarker for tonsil-related diseases such as peritonsillarabscess (PTA). The Quantum Blue® (Bühlmann Laboratories AG) Rapid Test was used for determination of calprotectin levels in saliva and serum from patients with PTA in the context of a pilot study.

Methods:

Serum and saliva samples were acquired from patients with PTA prior to an intervention as well as from healthy controls. The Quantum Blue® Rapid Test was used to determine the Calprotectin levels as point-of-care-instrument.

Results:

36 patients with PTA (20 male, 16 female, median age: 33 years, range 10 – 83 years) and 15 healthy controls (6 male, 9 female, median age: 30 years, 26 – 59 years) were included in this pilot study. Significant higher Calprotectin levels could be observed in serum (PTA 5745 +- 827 ng/ml (mean +- SEM) vs. control (780 +- 103 ng/ml, p < 0.001)) and even in saliva of patients with PTA (PTA 25824 +- 5942 ng/ml vs. control 3385 +- 1136 ng/ml, p = 0.002).

Conclusions:

Significantly increased Calprotectin levels could be identified in both serum and saliva of patients with PTA by the Quantum Blue Rapid Test. The rapid test serves as an appropriate point-of-care testing method for determination of Calprotectin levels in cases of PTA. Further studies will now have to prove the potential of the Quantum Blue® Rapid Test as a diagnostic tool for early and reliable identification of a peritonsillar abscess during outpatient management.

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
23. April 2019 (online)