Key result
Indirect immunofluorescence detects organ-specific anti-heart antibodies in 50% of patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
Chagas' cardiomyopathy may involve autoimmune mechanisms, but the frequency of organ-specific anti-heart antibodies in this condition was not well characterized.
Can organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies be detected in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy using rat organs as antigens?
Observational (n=18)
Can organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies be detected in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy using rat organs as antigens?
Organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies are present in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy and can be detected using rat organs as antigens.
Supports antibody detection with rat antigens in chagasic cardiomyopathy; leaves open diagnostic utility and requires larger prospective validation.
Chagas' disease can evolve to a chronic phase with cardiomyopathy that may include autoimmune mechanisms, among others. Recently an organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibody was detected in idiopathic cardiomyopathy, using human heart muscle as antigen. We decide to standardize an indirect immunofluorescence assay using rat organs in order to evaluate frequency of organ-specific anti-heart antibodies in chagasic cardiomyopathy. We tested 18 patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy for serum organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies. Nine patients were positive for organ-specific anti-heart antibodies (positive in heart muscle but negative in tongue muscle) and one was positive for non-organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies (positive in both heart and tongue muscle). We conclude that organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies can be detected using rat organs as antigens. Organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies are present in patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Nava et al. (1996) conducted an observational in Chagasic cardiomyopathy (n=18). Organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies was evaluated on Presence of organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies. Organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies were detected in 50% (9 of 18) of patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy using an indirect immunofluorescence assay with rat organs.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: