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Der Crithidia luciliae-Immunfluoreszenztest zum Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen doppelsträngige DNA

The crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test for detection of antibodies to double-stranded DNA

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Summary

For measurement of antibodies to double-stranded DNA (ds DNA) the Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test (Cl-IFT) was compared with the Farr precipitation technique in diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The Cl-IFT proved to be less sensitive in SLE patients without clinical disease activity, but the sensitivity of the test in those with active disease was comparable to that of the Farr test. In 76.9% of the patients' sera identical test results were obtained by both assays. In some sera antibodies were detected only by the Cl-IFT.

Positive test results in patients with deseases other than SLE were found more often with the Farr test. Thus, the Cl-IFT seemed to be more specific for diagnosis of SLE. Measurement of titers using the Cl-IFT provides a simple method to survey SLE disease activity. It allows to analyze the immunoglobulin classes of the reacting antibodies and their complement fixation ability in vitro. All three major immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgM, IgA) were found to be present in the sera with high antibody titers, complement fixation in the Cl-IFT could predominantly be detected in sera with high antibody titers.

Zusammenfassung

Der Crithidia luciliae-Immunfluoreszenztest (Cl-IFT) zum Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen doppelsträngige DNA (ds DNA) wurde in der Diagnostik und Verlaufsbeurteilung des systemischen Lupus erythematodes (SLE) in seiner Wertigkeit mit der radioimmunologischen Bestimmung im Farr-Test verglichen. Es zeigte sich, daß der Cl-IFT lediglich bei Patienten ohne Zeichen von Krankheitsaktivität von geringerer Sensitivität ist, in Phasen von klinischer Krankheitssymptomatik dem Farr-Test jedoch gleichwertig ist. Eine Übereinstimmung beider Testverfahren bestand in 76,9% der untersuchten Patienten-Seren; fehlende Übereinstimmung war nicht nur eine Frage der Sensitivität, in einigen Seren konnten nur mit dem Cl-IFT Antikörper nachgewiesen werden.

Ein positives Testergebnis bei Patienten einer Kontrollgruppe mit Erkrankungen vorwiegend aus dem rheumatischen Formenkreis wurde im Farr-Test wesentlich häufiger beobachtet, der Cl-IFT erwies sich somit in der Diagnostik des SLE von höherer Spezifität. Zugrunde liegende mögliche Ursachen werden diskutiert. Bei der Verlaufsbeobachtung konnten mit der Bestimmung von Titern im Cl-IFT parallele Tendenzen zum klinischen Geschehen beobachtet werden. Der Cl-IFT bietet die Möglichkeit, die Antikörperklassen sowie deren komplementbindende Eigenschaft in vitro zu untersuchen. Das gemeinsame Auftreten der Immunglobuline G, M und A war erst bei hohen Titern zu finden. Komplementbindung im Cl-IFT konnte vorwiegend in Seren mit hohen Antikörpertitern nachgewiesen werden.

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  1. Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und I. Medizinische Klinik der Universität Mainz, Germany

    P. Herzer, G. Greif & E. -M. Lemmel

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  1. P. Herzer
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  2. G. Greif
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  3. E. -M. Lemmel
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Herzer, P., Greif, G. & Lemmel, E.M. Der Crithidia luciliae-Immunfluoreszenztest zum Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen doppelsträngige DNA. Klin Wochenschr 60, 143–151 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711278

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