Autoimmune Studies in Patients with Primary Myocardial Disease
Key result
Serological tests for autoantibodies, Chagas, toxoplasmosis, and rheumatoid disease showed no difference in elevated titers between primary myocardial disease patients and paired controls.
Why the study?
Is there serological evidence of autoimmune or parasitic etiology in patients with chronic primary myocardial disease compared to paired controls?
Population
34 patients with primary myocardial disease and their paired control subjects. Patients were studied at an…
Comparison
Serological testing including heart… vs Paired control subjects
Design
Case-control
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
No serological support for autoimmune/parasitic etiology in chronic cases; leaves open prospective testing at onset or non-serological mechanisms.
Study Design
Type
Case-Control (n=68)
Structured PICO
Is there serological evidence of autoimmune or parasitic etiology in patients with chronic primary myocardial disease compared to paired controls?
P
Population
34 patients with primary myocardial disease and their paired control subjects. Patients were studied at an average of 6 years after onset of symptoms.
I
Intervention
Serological testing including heart immunofluorescent autoantibody tests, complement fixation test for Chagas' disease, hemagglutination test for toxoplasmosis, and latex flocculation test for rheumatoid disease
C
Comparator
Paired control subjects
O
Outcome
Incidence of elevated titers and actual titer levels for the tested serological markerssurrogate
There is no serological evidence associating specific parasitic or immunological responses with chronic primary myocardial disease when tested years after symptom onset.
Limitations
- Gives no information about an agent or mechanism no longer demonstrable by serological test
- Patients were studied at an average 6 years after onset of symptoms
- Agents or mechanisms other than those included in this study may be causative
- Gives no information about an agent or mechanism which is no longer demonstrable by serological test
Cite This Study
Fletcher et al. (1968) conducted a case-control in Primary myocardial disease (n=68). Serological tests (autoantibody, Chagas, toxoplasmosis, rheumatoid) vs. Paired control subjects was evaluated on Incidence of elevated titers or actual titer levels. Serological tests for autoantibodies, Chagas, toxoplasmosis, and rheumatoid disease showed no difference in elevated titers between primary myocardial disease patients and paired controls.