title: [Antibodies against double-stranded and single-stranded DNA in the aged].
abstract: Sera from 183 healthy, elderly subjects and 92 young, control subjects were tested by the Elisa method for antibodies against double-stranded (ds) and single-stranded (ss) DNA, and sera from the elderly were tested for antinuclear antibodies as well. Significantly higher levels of anti-ss-DNA were found in the elderly, but levels of anti-ds-DNA did not differ significantly; no sera positive for anti-ds-DNA were found. levels of antibodies to DNA were similar in men and women. In those 85 and over, mean levels of anti-ds-DNA were lower than in those 65-84 (63 vs. 44, p less than 0.05). 13 of those over 65 (7.1%) tested positive for antinuclear factor, 2 of whom had positive titers of anti-ss-DNA. The results of this study support the hypothesis that elevated levels of anti-ss-DNA are age-related and not disease-related.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine B, Hospital of the Emek, Afula.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flatau
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bshara
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shimoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shneyour
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded