Normal Value of Antistreptolysin O Titer in Rheumatoid Heart Disease who Are on Secondary Prophylaxis and in Apparently Healthy Children at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

titer assists for the diagnosis of streptococcal infections and their sequele. Normal value of Anti-streptolysin O titer is not available for Ethiopian populations. This study establish and compare the normal reference value in Rheumatoid Heart Disease (RHD) and in apparently healthy children. A cross sectional study methods was employed to collect blood samples from RHD patients who are on secondary prophylaxis, and apparently healthy children at pediatric clinic of Debre Brehan referral hospital. The blood sample was collected for ASO titer determination. And finally, the data will be analyzed using SPSS version 21and P-value less than or equal to 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. A total of 123 children on secondary prophylaxis for RHD in the age range of 5-15 years are included in these study. Of these, 65 (52.8) were male and 58 (47.2%) were female. The ASO ULN for the total subjects was 800 IU/ml. The ASO ULN for both male and female children in all age groups was also 800 IU/ml. And also 127 apparently healthy children with the age of 5-15 years were selected and investigated for the ASO ULN. The ASO ULN for the total subjects was 360 IU/ml. The ASO ULN for both male and female children was 320 IU/ml. The highest ASO ULN was observed for the age group of 9-12 years 400 IU/ml. These study suggest, most children with RHD have recent streptococcal infection as evident by raised ASO titer. This study also showed that ASO ULN for apparently healthy children is almost similar to those reported in countries with different climates.