High titres of serum antinuclear antibodies, mostly directed against nucleolar antigens, are associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis

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High titres of serum antinuclear antibodies, mostly directed against

nucleolar antigens, are associated with the presence of coronary

atherosclerosis

D J Grainger1 and H W L Bethell2

1 Department of Medicine, Box 157, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road,

Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK

2 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford

Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK

Background: Inappropriate inflammation is a key mechanism in the development

of atherosclerosis. Antibodies against components of the atherosclerotic

lesion, in particular, oxidised low density lipoprotein, have been

described.

Objective: To determine whether a systemic autoimmune response,

characterised by the presence of high titres of antinuclear antibodies, is

associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Serum was prepared from 40 subjects (aged 53­76) with at least 50%

stenoses of three main coronary arteries (TVD subjects), and 30 subjects

(aged 48­74) with no evidence of coronary atherosclerosis (NCA subjects)

determined by coronary angiography.

Results: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), characterised by immunofluorescent

detection of human antibodies bound to HEp-2000 cells, were detected at a

titre of at least 1/40 in 28 (70%) of the TVD subjects, but only five (17%)

of the NCA patients (odds ratio 11.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.91 to

17.82; p<0.001)). Most ANA positive TVD subjects had a pattern typical of

antibodies directed against nucleolar antigens. The antigen has not yet been

identified, but several common extractable antigens were excluded. The

presence of ANA was not associated with incidence of prior myocardial

infarction among the TVD group.

Conclusion: The presence of ANA, commonly associated with autoimmune

diseases, is substantially more prevalent among subjects with severe

coronary atherosclerosis than those with normal coronary arteries. This

association merits further assessment as a potentially useful indicator of

increased risk of coronary heart disease.