title: Low level autoantibodies can be frequently detected in the general Australian population.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of autoantibodies in a general Australian population cohort. Samples collected from 198 individuals included in a cross sectional Busselton Health Study were tested using autoantibody assays routinely performed at Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Western Australia. At least one autoantibody was detected in 51.5% of individuals (males = 45.1%, females = 58.3%). The most frequently detected serum autoantibodies were anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (12.1%) followed by anti-smooth muscle (11.6%) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (8.6%). Vasculitis associated anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were present in 5.1%, while anti-nuclear antibodies were detected in 8.6% of individuals. Notably, 65% of positive results were detected at low levels with the exception of anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I IgG antibodies. Autoantibodies are commonly detected at low levels in a predominantly Australian or European population cohort. No large Australian study has yet provided these data for contemporary routine tests. This paper gives important information on the background frequency of autoantibodies in the general population. Due to the nature of this study we are unaware of whether these individuals have subsequently developed an autoimmune disease, however this was not clinically diagnosed at the time of sample collection.
authors.affiliation: School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Building, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunt
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Building, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Institute for Respiratory Health, Harry Perkins Building, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. Electronic address: Chris.Bundell@health.wa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bundell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens
keywords: Autoantibody; Busselton Health Study; background frequency; general Australian population