[Seroprevalence of antinuclear antibodies in blood donors in the Yaqui Valley].
BACKGROUND
Antinuclear antibodies are immunoglobulins that recognize autologous nuclear and cytoplasmic cellular components. In healthy persons they are not associated with autoimmune disease. However, they may be related to an immune risk phenotype that has not been sufficiently studied. We undertook this study to examine the presence of antinuclear antibodies in serum from blood donors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study on 379 blood donors between 18 and 65 years old. Serum for the presence of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence in HEp-2 cells was analyzed. The prevalence and pattern of expression were compared with age, gender, and history of rheumatic or thyroid disease.


RESULTS
Prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in the study population was 13%. Most of the positive subjects were between 21 and 40 years old. Male gender expressed a greater proportion of positivity (11%) than females (2%). Likewise, 82% of males had low titers (1:80) and nucleolar type in 66% of cases (OR = 10.66 [1.83 to 62.18], p = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of antinuclear antibodies in healthy individuals at low levels may not mean an autoimmune condition; however, it could reflect exposure to environmental factors that have not been sufficiently studied. New studies of healthy individuals are necessary in order to explain the association between the presence of these antibodies and toxic and environmental factors and their effects on health.
Departamento de Patología Clínica, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste; Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Ricardo
R
Serrano-Osuna
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste; Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Rocío Milagro
RM
López-López
Dirección de Educación e Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste; Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Olga Rosa
OR
Brito-Zurita
Departamento de Salud en el Trabajo, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste; Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Enrique
E
Sabag-Ruiz
Banco de Sangre, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 2, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Centro Médico Nacional del Noroeste; Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Héctor
H
Pérez-Fernández
Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Campus Cajeme, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. jmoapat@gmail.com.
José Manuel
JM
Ornelas-Aguirre
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear
Antinuclear antibody; anticuerpo antinuclear; autoimmune response; blood donor; donador de sangre; respuesta autoinmunitaria