Auto antibodies in Iraqi patients with spinal cord injury

ABSTRACT

Autoantibodies can be generated by different mechanisms and detected in different autoimmune diseases, neoplastic conditions and other diseases. These autoantibodies are important in the diagnosis and management of these disordered. Forty-eight patients with spinal cord injury, twenty-eight quadriplegics and twenty patients were paraplegics, resident in spinal cord accidents hospital [Ibn - AIgiff formerly] from 2002 to 2003. The other group was twenty-five apparently healthy individuals. Both groups were investigated for the presence of autoantibodies against nuclear, mitochondria and smooth muscle using indirect immunofluorescense test. There was no significant difference in anti nuclear antibody between patients and control group. Other autoantibodies, mitochondria and smooth muscle were not detected in both groups. Spinal cord injury did not lead to formation of autoantibodies in spite of damage to spinal cord and exposed sequestered neuronal antigens to immune system probably due to decreased MHC class II expression on neuronal tissues and corticosteroid effect neuroimmune interactions that administered immediately after traumatic injuiy or cortisol formation in the body. Autoantibodies [nuclear, mitochondria, smooth muscle] were not detected in both control and patients group. Other autoantibodies directed against neurological tissues by using other methods like western blot method: