[Immunohistochemical detection of antibodies against smooth muscle (author's transl)].

Smooth muscles antibodies are heterogeneous. Their fluorescent staining patterns and their antigens are not exactly known. The author's own experiences are based on 170 smooth muscle antibodies, which were tested by means of indirect immunofluorescence for their binding to rat stomach, liver, kidney, heart, and bovine skeletal muscle, further to human lymphocytes (only 10 cases were tested). 123 different fluorescent patterns and 21 combinations of various organs were found. Few unusual patterns were demonstrated. There was evidence that antibodies with individuum specificity exist, e.g. antibodies reacted only with the muscularis mucosae of the stomach. Possibilities of errors were discussed shortly. Smooth muscle antibodies reacting with stomach, liver, kidney (especially glomerular mesangium), and heart were more frequent in liver diseases than in non liver diseases (ratio about 4 : 1). Antibodies reacted with smooth, heart, and skeletal muscle were most anti-skeletal antibodies cross-reacted with smooth muscle.