The Immunofluorescent Tumor Imprint Technique

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Abstract
Sera (488) were tested for antinuclear factors (ANF) by the immunofluorescent tumor imprint technique for detecting connective tissue diseases. Nuclear fluorescence was homogeneous, shaggy, speckled or nucleolar. The incidence of ANF was 97.7% in systemic-lupus-erythematosus, 53.3% in discoid-lupus-erythematosus, 90.9% in systemic-scleroderma, 100% in linear-scleroderma, 16.6% in morphea and 60% in Jessner''s lymphocytic infiltrate while only 3.2% in controls and 6% in 115 patients with miscellaneous dermatoses. A negative ANF test virtually excludes active systemic-lupus-erythematosus. Speckled and nucleolar fluorescence were almost exclusively confined to scleroderma. A relationship was found between the incidence of ANF and the severity of the disease in scleroderma and dermatomyositls. A routine ANF test is advocated in all patients where a connective tissue disease is suspected.