ORGAN-SPECIFIC CIRCULATING HEART AUTOANTIBODIES IN CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY - EXPLORATORY-STUDY

Chagas' disease can evolve to a chronic phase with cardiomyopathy that may include autoimmune mechanisms, among others. Recently an organ-sp ecific anti-heart muscle antibody was detected in idiopathic cardiomyo pathy, using human heart muscle as antigen. We decide to standardize a n indirect immunofluorescence assay using rat organs in order to evalu ate frequency of organ-specific anti-heart antibodies in chagasic card iomyopathy. We tested 18 patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy for ser um organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodies. Nine patients were pos itive for organ-specific anti-heart antibodies (positive in heart musc le but negative in tongue muscle) and one was positive for non-organ-s pecific anti-heart muscle antibodies (positive in both heart and tongu e muscle). We conclude that organ-specific anti-heart muscle antibodie s can be detected using rat organs as antigens. Organ-specific anti-he art muscle antibodies are present in patients with chagasic cardiomyop athy. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.