ANTI-LAMININ AUTOANTIBODIES IN COLLAGEN VASCULAR DISEASES - THE USE OF ADEQUATE CONTROLS IN STUDIES OF AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSES TO LAMININ

Objectives-To determine the significance of anti-laminin antibodies in patients with collagen vascular diseases using a large control popula tion of normal individuals. Methods-Anti-laminin antibodies of IgG iso types were determined using an ELISA assay in a population consisting of 73 patients with systemic sclerosis, 10 with urticarial vasculitis, five with leukocytoclastic vasculitis, 13 with giant cell arteritis, and eight with dermatomyositis. Sera from 134 healthy individuals serv ed as controls. Results-Only eight sera in the systemic sclerosis grou p, one in the leukocytoclastic group and one in the giant cell arterit is group were abnormal. No other sera were abnormal. Conclusion-These data contradict previous studies using smaller numbers of controls. Th e necessity for an adequate control population to define abnormal when comparing immune responses among groups is frequently under-emphasise d in rheumatological studies.