title: Autoantibodies in myotonic dystrophy.
abstract: We evaluated some immunological parameters in a group of 24 patients affected with myotonic dystrophy (MD). IgG, IgA, IgM immunoglobulin serum levels resulted decreased in most of the patients. Anti-smooth-muscle antibodies have been found in 10 out of 24 patients (45.5%). Moreover in some of them decreased C3 and C4 complement fraction serum levels have been found. Our data confirm the existence of some immunological abnormalities in a great number of subjects affected with the disease. Besides, these data evidence for most of the subjects the presence of autoantibodies non-organ-specific direct against myocellular antigens. These autoantibodies could be considered the expression of suffering of muscular fibres.
authors.affiliation: Instituto di l Clinica Medica dell'Università di Roma La Sapienza.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorito
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pocobelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picelli
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Fragola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Autore
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cannata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins