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Smooth Muscle Antibody in Heroin Addicts
- GUNNAR HUSBY, M.D.;
- PAUL E. PIERCE, M.D.; and
- RALPH C. WILLIAMS, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.P.
Abstract
The occurrence of autoantibodies and the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins were studied in 102 heroin addicts, 20 former addicts who had abstained from heroin for 1 year or more, and 40 normal control subjects. Antibodies to smooth muscle (46%) and lymphocytotoxic antibodies (30%) were detected in the active heroin users, and there was a significantly positive correlation between these autoantibodies. Absorption experiments strongly suggested antigenic cross-reactivity between smooth muscle and lymphocyte membrane antigens. The presence of smooth muscle antibody in addicts was not clearly correlated with signs of active liver disease. The occurrence of smooth muscle antibody (10%) and lymphocytotoxic antibodies (15%) was significantly lower in the former heroin addicts than among active drug users. A significant elevation of IgM was found in the active heroin addicts. Gamma-M globulin was lower among the former heroin addicts but still elevated when compared with normal controls.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Department of Medicine, Bernalillo County Medical Center, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Grant support: in part by grants AM13690-05 and AM AI13824-04 from the U.S. Public Health Service, and by a grant from the New Mexico Arthritis Foundation.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Ralph C. Williams, Jr., M.D., Department of Medicine, Bernalillo County Medical Center, 5th Floor, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Stanford and Lomas, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
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- Received June 9, 1975.
- Accepted August 27, 1975.
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