VALUE OF IMMUNOLOGICAL TESTING IN STROKE PATIENTS - A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER STUDY

Background and Purpose The aims of this prospective and multicenter st udy were to determine the frequency of anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies in an unselected ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke populatio n and to evaluate the clinical significance of these autoantibodies. M ethods Over a 1-year period, we collected plasma from 481 consecutive patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke attending four different hospitals. Blood (10 mL) was drawn from each subject into a citrated g lass tube. Plasma was obtained immediately by centrifugation and was s tored at -70 degrees C until use. Concentrations of IgM and IgG antica rdiolipin antibodies were measured at room temperature in normal (not heat-treated) plasma by standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . All sera were treated by indirect immunofluorescence on mouse liver and kidney sections for antinuclear antibodies. Results A total of 481 patients (325 men, 156 women) 16 to 90 years in age (mean age, 61 yea rs) were studied. Anticardiolipin antibodies were present in 5 of 481 (1.04%) patients. One patient was IgG positive and four patients were IgM positive. Of 481 patients, 35 (7.2%) were positive for antinuclear antibodies. Anti-DNA antibodies were not demonstrable in any patient. Conclusions The frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies in a heteroge neous stroke population is possibly lower than reported. The routine s creening of anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies in a stroke pop ulation is of questionable value.