[Catalytic autoantibodies--a new molecular instrument in cardiology and ophthalmology].

AIM

To develop a conceptual model of using catalytic autoantibodies as diagnostic and monitoring tools in organ-specific autoimmune disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 99 patients (56 males and 43 females aged 21-52 years) with autoimmune myocarditis (AM) and 198 patients (77 males and 121 females aged 8-79 years) with autoimmune uveitis (A U) participated in the study. AM patients were examined for anticardiomyosin and anti-DNA autoantibodies (ACM, ADNAab), AU patients - for autoantibodies to S-antigen, IRBP, redopsin, phosphocine, autoDNA.

RESULTS

AM patients had double level of DNA-binding autoantibodies. In 1/3 of them there was hydrolysing DNA and cytotoxic activity. In AU patients maximal titers were in Behcet's disease, sympathic ophthalmia, generalized uveitis and viral uveitis.

CONCLUSION

Autoantibodies with different specificity and function including DNA-abzymes can be additional diagnostic and prognostic markers.