title: Prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in the elderly British population.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study of 100 healthy elderly individuals, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were measured using an ELISA technique. aCL were not detected in the majority of subjects (63%), and in the remaining 37% titres were within the laboratory reference range (mean +5 standard deviations) previously determined for adults of all ages. In contrast, significant titres of IgM rheumatoid factor were found in 10%, antimitochondrial antibody in 13%, antinuclear factor in 5%, anti-smooth muscle antibody in 18%, antiparietal cell antibody in 10%, and antireticulin antibody in 1%. Antibodies to single or double-stranded DNA were not detected in any subject. We conclude that, although other auto-antibodies may be present in the healthy aging population in Britain, abnormally elevated levels of aCL antibody do not occur, and when present may be an indicator of autoimmune-mediated pathology.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Regional Rheumatic Disease Research Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Byron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wozniak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor