Early and definitive diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome by detection of marked expansion of T-cell-receptor Vβ2-positive T cells

Abstract

We describe two cases of early toxic, shock syndrome, caused by the superantigen produced from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and diagnosed on the basis of an expansion of T-cell-receptor Vβ2-positive T cells. One casepatient showed atypical symptoms. Our results indicate that diagnostic systems incorporating laboratory techniques are essential for rapid, definitive diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome.