In the literature, there are case reports suggesting that Borrelia burgdorferi infection may induce autoimmune diseases dependent on antinuclear antibodies (ANA). The present study was undertaken in order to verify this possibility in a prospective manner. The study group comprised 78 consecutive patients (51 women and 27 men, median age 41.5 years) referred to our Department for the serologic ...

A method of detecting serum antinuclear factor by the use of antiglobulin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase has been compared with a standard procedure using a fluorescent label. The horseradish peroxidase conjugate was evaluated by block titration against positive serum and by its performance as a test reagent for screening and titrating sera. It is concluded that the horse-radish peroxid...

BACKGROUND Studies have shown the presence of either antibodies to histone or anticardiolipin antibodies in some forms of childhood chronic arthritis. The relation between these autoantibodies has not been previously reported, however, and the immunogenetics of their association with childhood arthritis has not been studied. METHODS The interrelation of fluorescent antinuclear antibodies, ant...

Clinical history: A-31 year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for proteinuria, fatigue, edema of the hands, tinnitus and sudden hearing loss of the left ear. Physical and laboratory examination revealed arterial hypertension, nephrotic proteinuria (5g/day) and microscopic hematuria. Kidney function was normal with a serum creatinine level of 73μmol/l (0,79mg/dl). Immunology was negative (E...

Laboratory tests showed a slightly increased white blood cell count (8,800/mm 3 ) and increased C-reactive protein (11.13 mg/dl). Other blood tests including liver enzymes and renal function were within normal ranges. The urine was negative for Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen tests. Further laboratory investigation, including immunoglobulin levels, rheumatoid factor,...

BACKGROUND Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon autoimmune disease characterized by cutaneous, hepatic, hematological, neurological and cardiac involvement. CASE PRESENTATION Here we report four cases of cutaneous NLE which were referred to our department in the last 10 years and update literature. The newborns presented with different skin, clinical and laboratory features. This...

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or exposure to sunlight are well known but poorly understood predisposing factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Dubois, 1966; Freeman, Knox, and Owens, 1969). It appears from the published literature, that little attention has been paid to what actually occurs when apparently healthy individuals are exposed to UV irradiation. On a molecular level, UV irradi...

Rural inhabitants are exposed to considerable amounts of pesticides from water, soil and air. There are indications that exposure to pesticides may trigger production of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Therefore, the question arises about the prevalence of ANA in this group. In 90 eastern-Polish rural inhabitants (RI) and 50 urban blood donors (BD), the presence of ANA in serum was tested using E...