title: Cytoplasmic, nuclear, and platelet autoantibodies in human granulocytic ehrlichiosis patients.
abstract: Serum samples from patients with confirmed human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) were tested for cytoplasmic, nuclear, and platelet autoantibodies and rheumatoid factor. The indirect fluorescence antinuclear antibody test on Hep-2 cells demonstrated antinuclear titers of > or = 40 and > or = 160 in 44 and 10%, respectively, of serum samples from HGE patients. Two patients (4%) had anticytoplasmic (mitochondrial and spindle apparatus) antibodies with a titer of 80 and two patients (4%) had anticytoplasmic (mitochondrial) antibodies with a titer of 160 or greater. Flow cytometry was used to demonstrate antiplatelet antibodies in 80% of first serum samples from HGE patients. Rheumatoid factor was not detected. Nuclear and cytoplasmic autoantibodies are a major cause of interference when the indirect fluorescence antibody test is used to detect fluorescence of morulae in Ehrlichia-infected equine neutrophils or HL-60 promyelocytes. Antiplatelet antibodies may contribute to the profound thrombocytopenia which is a characteristic laboratory feature during the acute phase of HGE infection. Whether autoantibodies precede infection or are caused by immune activation of HGE deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201-2002, USA. wong@wadsworth.org
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007840:Latex; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor