Plasma concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA were determined by ELISA (E11-118, E11-101, and E11-131 respectively; Bethyl Laboratories Inc., Montgomery, TX) according to the manufacturer's guidelines. All intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were ≤5%, and inter-assay CV were ≤ 6%.
Plasma total protein concentrations were determined using an ADVIA 1800 analyzer (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). Albumin concentrations in plasma were measured by bromocresol green-binding and spectrophotometric determination at 596 nm (ADVIA 1800; Siemens Medical Solutions). Fibrinogen concentrations in plasma were measured by a particlebound polyclonal rabbit anti-fibrinogen antibody (Q 0122; DakoCytomation, Glostrup, Denmark), followed by a turbidimetric assay (ADVIA 1800; Siemens Medical Solutions). A spectrophotometric assay was used to analyze plasma haptoglobin concentrations, following the manufacturer's guidelines (TP-801; Tridelta Developments Ltd., Kildare, Ireland). For the abovementioned analyses, all intra-assay CV were ≤3% and inter-assay CV were ≤4%. Serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in plasma were determined by ELISA (TP-802; Tridelta Developments Ltd.) according to the manufacturer's guidelines. All intra-assay CV for SAA were ≤ 5%, and inter-assay CV were ≤ 6%.
Plasma total protein concentrations were determined using an ADVIA 1800 analyzer (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). Albumin concentrations in plasma were measured by bromocresol green-binding and spectrophotometric determination at 596 nm (ADVIA 1800; Siemens Medical Solutions). Fibrinogen concentrations in plasma were measured by a particlebound polyclonal rabbit anti-fibrinogen antibody (Q 0122; DakoCytomation, Glostrup, Denmark), followed by a turbidimetric assay (ADVIA 1800; Siemens Medical Solutions). A spectrophotometric assay was used to analyze plasma haptoglobin concentrations, following the manufacturer's guidelines (TP-801; Tridelta Developments Ltd., Kildare, Ireland). For the abovementioned analyses, all intra-assay CV were ≤3% and inter-assay CV were ≤4%. Serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in plasma were determined by ELISA (TP-802; Tridelta Developments Ltd.) according to the manufacturer's guidelines. All intra-assay CV for SAA were ≤ 5%, and inter-assay CV were ≤ 6%.