Can the chronic form of the Pfeiffer’s glandular fever be recognized in the blood count?
The determination of a chronic form of Pfeiffer’s glandular fever is very difficult and cannot really be clearly assessed on the basis of blood values. In order to detect an infection with mononucleosis, one often looks for certain proteins, the so-called antibodies, in the blood, since these are produced by the body’s own immune cells specifically adapted to the virus. The antibody against virus capsid antigen (VCA) is particularly popular.
This is in a very specific form when a fresh infection is present. Doctors then call the antibody virus capsid antigen immunoglobulin M, as a clear indication of a current infection. In the course of the infection, this antibody changes to another form, namely immunoglobulin G. This is precisely where difficulties arise in the diagnosis of a chronic infection.
The subform immunoglobulin G is found in survived infections on the one hand, but also in infections that have not yet healed. The antibodies can therefore give an indication, but their presence is not proof of a chronic infection, as they can also be caused by a previous infection.
