title: Positive Auto-Antibody Activity With Retina and Optic Nerve in Smokers and Non-Smokers: The Controversy Continues.
abstract: Auto-antibodies assist with the diagnosis of ocular paraneoplastic syndromes and autoimmune ocular conditions; however, the frequency of positive test results as a possible precursor to future disease is unknown. The frequency of positive antibodies in heavy smokers who may be at risk for autoimmune-related retinopathy and optic neuropathy was evaluated. Serum antibody activity was evaluated through the use of Western blot reactions from pig retina and optic nerve extract. Fifty-one patients were included: 35 patients were smokers (average: 40.9 pack-year history) and 26 patients had no past smoking history. None of the patients had any visual complaints or known eye disease. Of the patients studied, 76.5% (39 patients: 18 smokers, 21 non-smokers) had positive antiretinal antibodies, and 19.6% (10 patients: 3 smokers, 7 non-smokers) had positive antioptic nerve antibodies. Anti-retinal antibodies were seen in a majority of randomly selected patients with and without a past smoking history. Anti-optic nerve bodies were less common, but more prevalent in those who never smoked. The specificity of these antibodies remains greatly uncertain and clinical correlation is warranted.
authors.forename: Eric K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: David R P
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Khoa V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keltner
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Thirkill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000276:immunology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D059545:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Ocular / Q000276:immunology; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D005136:Eye Proteins