Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39879248›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Scrub typhus association with autoimmune biomarkers and clinical implications.

Hwanseung You, Jeongeun Song, Seonglyeong Kim, Sang-Min Oh, Joo-Hee Hwang, Jeong-Hwan Hwang, Wan-Hee Yoo, Yunjung Choi, Chang-Seop Lee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Movement Disorders in Scrub Typhus: A Systematic Review.Tremor and other hyperkinetic movements (New York, N.Y.) · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Humoral Immune Response toZoonoses (Shannon, Ireland) · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hwanseung YouJeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Jeongeun SongJeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Seonglyeong KimJeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Min OhDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Joo-Hee HwangDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Jeong-Hwan HwangDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Wan-Hee YooDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Yunjung ChoiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-7922-0705
Chang-Seop LeeDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-2897-2202

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScrub typhus, a disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, triggers systemic vasculitis and is prevalent in Eastern and Southern Asia. This study aimed to uncover the relationship between scrub typhus and autoimmune responses, focusing on antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and the implications of elevated ANA titers during infection.

methodData from a total of 139 patients diagnosed with scrub typhus and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively analyzed through serum samples to assess the levels of ANAs and related autoantibodies. The study further examined the temporal variation of these antibody titers in relation to post-symptom progression and evaluated their association with clinical and laboratory parameters.

resultsThe study results detail significant differences in autoimmune responses between scrub typhus patients and healthy controls. ANA titers above 1:80 were detected in 71.2% of patients; these titers were elevated in only 13.3% of the healthy controls. High-titer positivity (1:640 or higher) was observed exclusively in the scrub typhus group. The distribution of ANA titers revealed a progressive increase in mean ANA and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid Immunoglobulin M (anti-dsDNA IgM) titers as the duration after symptom onset increased, indicating an augmented immune response over time. This trend was observed along with a systematic elevation in median anti-dsDNA IgM titers, highlighting the dynamic nature of immune responses in scrub typhus infection.

conclusionOur findings conclude a substantial autoimmunological reaction in scrub typhus patients, suggesting potential mimicry of autoimmune conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. These results underline the complex interplay between infectious diseases and autoimmunity, emphasizing the necessity for further research into these mechanisms and their clinical implications.

Indexed as

Antibodies, AntinuclearBiomarkersScrub TyphusAdolescentAdultAgedAutoantibodiesFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin MMaleMiddle AgedOrientia tsutsugamushiRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAntibodies, AntinuclearAutoantibodiesBiomarkersImmunoglobulin M

Identifiers

PMID39879248
PMCPMC11778775

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.