[Variations in the level of S antigen auto-antibodies and their relation to the development of retinitis pigmentosa (autosomal recessive genetic form)].

A group of 40 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (autosomal recessive) were studied. The levels of soluble retinal antigen (S antigen of human origin) auto-antibodies were measured by means of the enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay. The results obtained were compared with those of a control population of 100 healthy subjects (p less than 0.001). A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.451, p less than 0.01) was observed when comparison was made between the anti-S levels and the time elapsed from the moment of retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis.