Antinuclear antibodies in the relatives of patients with systemic sclerosis |
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Authors: | K. TAKEHARA Y. MOROI Y. ISHIBASHI |
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Affiliation: | Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan;Department of Internal Medicine and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan |
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Abstract: | Antinuclear antibodies were studied by indirect immunofluorescence and double immunodiffusion in 21 patients with systemic sclerosis and 35 of their relatives. When HEp-2 cells were used as the substrate, the frequency of antinuclear antibodies in the patients' sera was 100% and that in the relatives was 26%. When rat liver sections were used, the values were 86% and 17%, respectively. Anticentromere antibody was detected in the serum from the mother of one patient whose serum had anti-Scl-70 antibody. Antibody to n-RNP was positive in the sera from the brother and daughter of another patient whose serum was positive for anti-n-RNP and anti-Scl-70 antibodies. The high frequency of antinuclear antibodies in the sera from the relatives of systemic sclerosis patients suggests that immunological abnormalities play a part in the pathogenesis of this condition. |
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