Antibodies against human putamen in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Citation
Z. Harel et al., Antibodies against human putamen in adolescents with anorexia nervosa, INT J EAT D, 29(4), 2001, pp. 463-469
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology,"Clinical Psycology & Psychiatry
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS
ISSN journal
02763478 → ACNP
Volume
29
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
463 - 469
Database
ISI
SICI code
0276-3478(200105)29:4<463:AAHPIA>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Objective: To examine whether antiputamen antibodies are present in adolesc ents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with an extract of human putamen as an antigen, sera samples obtained from 22 adolescents with active AN and from 22 healthy adolescents (control group) were assayed for antibodies to neuronal components Results : Mean optical density (OD) readings for serum antibodies against human put amen in adolescents with AN was significantly greater than the mean OD read ings in the control group (0.492 +/- 0.086 vs. 0.275 +/- 0.028, p = .02). W hen serum positivity was defined as an OD level greater than 2 SD above the mean control group value (0.541), antiputamen antibodies were detected in the blood of 6 AN patients (27%) whereas they were detected in the blood of 1 patient (5%) in the control group (p < .05; Fisher's exact test). Discus sion: The detection of antiputamen antibodies in adolescents with AN sugges ts an underlying immune process at the putamen level in some patients with this eating disorder. <(c)> 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.