TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequency and levels of autoantibodies in healthy adult Omanis
AU - Al-Jabri, Ali A.
AU - Al Belushi, Mohammed S.
AU - Nsanze, Herbert
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Background: A previous pilot study showed a high frequency of anti-smooth muscle autoantibody in Omani blood donors and pregnant women. We conducted this larger-scale study to investigate the frequency and significance of several autoantibodies in healthy individuals from different regions of Oman. Methods: Sera obtained from 1537 healthy Omanis (1153 males and 384 females), ranging in age from 18 to 57 years, were tested for the presence of ten different autoantibodies using indirect immunofluorescence, haemagglutination and latex agglutination techniques. Results: Low levels of autoantibodies were detected in 33.5%, whereas a few individuals (1.8%) showed high autoantibody titres. Anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies (ASMA) were the most prevalent (11%). Anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANA) were the second most prevalent (7.6%). Anti-thyroid microsomal autoantibodies (ATMA) and anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies (ATA) were present in 6.5% and 4.4% of individuals, respectively. The other autoantibodies were detected much less frequently: anti-parietal cells autoantibodies (APCA) were found in 1.6%, anti-brush border antibodies (ABBA) in 1.3%, anti-reticulin autoantibodies (ARA) in 1%, anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) in 0.8%, antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies (AGBMA) in 0.7% and rheumatoid factor (RF) in 0.4%. Conclusion: The data indicate that autoantibodies are present in healthy Omani individuals, and therefore caution should be taken when interpreting laboratory results of patients suspected of having autoimmune disease.
AB - Background: A previous pilot study showed a high frequency of anti-smooth muscle autoantibody in Omani blood donors and pregnant women. We conducted this larger-scale study to investigate the frequency and significance of several autoantibodies in healthy individuals from different regions of Oman. Methods: Sera obtained from 1537 healthy Omanis (1153 males and 384 females), ranging in age from 18 to 57 years, were tested for the presence of ten different autoantibodies using indirect immunofluorescence, haemagglutination and latex agglutination techniques. Results: Low levels of autoantibodies were detected in 33.5%, whereas a few individuals (1.8%) showed high autoantibody titres. Anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies (ASMA) were the most prevalent (11%). Anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANA) were the second most prevalent (7.6%). Anti-thyroid microsomal autoantibodies (ATMA) and anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies (ATA) were present in 6.5% and 4.4% of individuals, respectively. The other autoantibodies were detected much less frequently: anti-parietal cells autoantibodies (APCA) were found in 1.6%, anti-brush border antibodies (ABBA) in 1.3%, anti-reticulin autoantibodies (ARA) in 1%, anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) in 0.8%, antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies (AGBMA) in 0.7% and rheumatoid factor (RF) in 0.4%. Conclusion: The data indicate that autoantibodies are present in healthy Omani individuals, and therefore caution should be taken when interpreting laboratory results of patients suspected of having autoimmune disease.
KW - Anti-nuclear autoantibodies
KW - Anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies
KW - Anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies
KW - Anti-thyroid microsomal autoantibodies
KW - Autoantibodies
KW - Oman
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U2 - 10.5144/0256-4947.2003.372
DO - 10.5144/0256-4947.2003.372
M3 - Article
C2 - 16868371
AN - SCOPUS:0347531870
SN - 0256-4947
VL - 23
SP - 372
EP - 375
JO - Annals of Saudi Medicine
JF - Annals of Saudi Medicine
IS - 6
ER -