Clinical significance of anti-streptococcal esterase (ASE) determination in rheumatic fever and other streptococcal diseases

Streptococcal esterase is known as one of the extracellular products of Group A streptococci. In this paper, an antibody of streptococcal esterase titers in patients with rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis and other streptococcal infections were determined. In cases with acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, ASE titers showed almost the same changes as ASO, ASK and ADN-B. The characteristics of the ASE determination, however, is that small changes in the titers could be detected because the final definition of this titer was determined by photometer.