title: A new serologic marker in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Sera of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were screened for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence staining of polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Thirty-nine percent of the sera tested contained antibodies which selectively reacted with an antigen(s) present at the chromosomal locus 93D after heat shock treatment. This indicates a novel antibody specificity in a subgroup of AS patients and may provide a new aid in the diagnosis of AS.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000276:immunology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins