[Decision levels of sero-immunological data].
OBJECTIVE
To determine reference values in several representative serological or immunological examinations in the elderly subjects compared with young adults.


METHODS
The group of elderly subjects over 70 years consisted of 630 people living at their own home and 170 people living in nursing homes. The young control group consisted of the 340 university students. ASO and RF were quantitatively measured by latex turbidimetry and FANA by immunofluorescence. Furthermore, several other autoantibodies were also examined by ELISA. The ninety-fifth percentile method was employed for the determination of reference values.


RESULTS
The upper limit of reference intervals for ASO was 190 U/ml in the elderly group, while 330 U/ml in the young group. As to RF, it was 25 U/ml (70-79 years) and 37 U/ml (80-89 years), while 15 U/ml in the young. In FANA, x 160 was determined in both the elderly and the young adult subjects. Relatively higher positive frequencies were obtained in the autoantibodies to desmogrein3, dsDNA, cardiolipin and thyroglobulin in the elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
In the elderly, ASO titers were lower, RF titers were higher, and FANA titers were generally similar to those in young adults. Higher titers were observed for some other autoantibodies.
Imafuku
Y
Y
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine.
Yoshida
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000989:Antistreptolysin / Q000097:blood; D003657:Decision Making; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood
D000989:Antistreptolysin; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor