RESUMO
Immunopathological and inflammatory processes play important roles in the initiation and development of Ischemic Heart Disease [IHD]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of several autoantibodies including rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-nuclear antibodies [ANA], anti-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein [anti-Sm], anti-phosphatidylserine [anti-PS] and anti-cardiolipin [anti-CL] antibodies in patients with IHD. A total of 120 patients with IHD with acute myocardial infarction [AMI; n=60] or unstable angina [UA; n=60] and 60 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum samples of participants were tested for the ANA, anti-Sm, anti-PS and anti-CL antibodies by ELISA. Serum level of RF was measured by a turbidometric method. The mean serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibodies in AMI group and UA group were significantly higher than those observed in the control group [p<0.0001]. The mean serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibodies in AMI patients were significantly higher than the UA group [p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively]. The mean serum levels of RF in men with AMI or UA diseases were significantly higher as compared to healthy control men [p<0.0001 and p<0.003, respectively]. The differences of the serum levels of ANA, anti-Sm and anti-CL antibodies were not significant between AMI, UA and the control groups. There was no difference in the serum levels of RF, ANA, anti-Sm, anti-PS or anti-CL antibodies in patients with traditional risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and smoking, and those without a certain risk factor. Higher serum levels of RF and anti-PS antibody in patients with IHD may be considered as independent risk factors for IHD