Autoantibodies in Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's Disease)

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Abstract
Autoantibodies, organ and non-organ-specific, were studied in 10 patients of thromboangiitis obliterans by immunofluorescence technique and compared with age-matched controls without periperal vascular disease and patients with other peripheral vascular diseases. Organ-specific autoantibodies (various classes of IgM, IgG and IgA) and C3 component were observed in the diseased vessels of thromboangiitis obliterans. Antiarterial antibodies were present in the sera of these patients. Among the non-organ-specific antibodies (ANA [antinuclear antibody] and AMA [antimitochondrial antibody]), only ANA were found in the sera of patients. The presence of autoantibodies in thromboangiitis obliterans patients strongly suggests that this disease entity is an autoimmune disorder.