CORRELATION OF SMOOTH-MUSCLE AND NUCLEAR ANTIBODIES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (1) , 74-77
Abstract
By means of the indirect immunofluorescent method the occurrence of smooth-muscle antibodies (SMA) was studied in 582 normal [human] subjects of different ages; the incidence of SMA was compared with that of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). SMA were detected in 32 (5.5%) and ANA in 28 (4.8%) of the normal subjects. The antibodies were of the IgG [immunoglobulin G] and the IgM class, while no IgA antibodies could be detected. IgM-SMA were demonstrated in 2.9%, IgM-ANA in 4.1% and IgG-ANA in 1.2% of the 582 subjects, and the incidence of these antibodies increased with increasing age (P = 0.012, P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). IgG-SMA occurred in 3.6%, and the prevalence of these antibodies was not age-related. No relationship between the incidence of antibodies and sex could be established. IgM-SMA and IgM-ANA were often found together in the same individuals (P = 0.002), which suggests that the same factors may elicit the formation of both antibodies.