Antinuclear antibodies and histocompatibility antigens in patients on long-term lithium therapy

Antinuclear autoantibodies in relation to bipolar affective disorder and lithium therapy

We investigated the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 63 drug free and lithium treated bipolar patients as compared to 37 healthy controls. Increased frequency of positive ANA was detected in bipolar patients in comparison to controls (19% vs 5%, respectively, P < 0.05). This finding was unrelated to lithium treatment. No antinative DNA antibodies or antihistone reactive antibodies were detected among the ANA positive subjects.

Heavy metals in fish and its association with autoimmunity in the development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a prospective birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

The etiology of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible influence of early nutrition on later development of JIA.

METHODS

In a population-based prospective birth cohort of 15,740 children we collected nutritional data, including fish consumption, and biological samples during pregnancy, at birth and at different ages. 16 years after study inclusion we identified 42 children with JIA, of whom 11 were positive for Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA). Heavy metals were analysed in cord blood of all 42 JIA patients and 40 age and sex-matched controls. A multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for relevant factors, was used as well as Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS

Fish consumption more than once a week during pregnancy as well as during the child's first year of life was associated with an increased risk of JIA (aOR 4.5 (1.95-10.4); p < 0.001 and aOR 5.1 (2.1-12.4) p < 0.001) and of ANA-positivity (aOR 2.2 (1.4-3.6); p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Concentrations of Al, Cd, Hg and Li in cord blood were significantly higher in the JIA-group than in controls. The ANA-positive, all of whom had consumed fish >once/week their first year, had significantly higher concentrations of Al (p < 0.001), Cd (p = 0.003), and Li (p < 0.001) in cord blood than controls. Frequency of fish consumption correlated with concentrations of Cd (p = 0.003), Li (p = 0.015) and Hg (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate exposure to heavy metals, associated with fish consumption, during pregnancy and early childhood may cause effects on the immune system of the offspring, resulting in ANA positivity and JIA.

Anticerebral antibodies in functional psychoses

Anticerebral antibodies to rabbit brain were investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence method in the sera of 44 schizophrenics and 52 depressives diagnosed according to DSM-III-R, and of 54 healthy volunteers. Four types of staining pattern were observed: type A (nerve cells), type B (blood vessels), type C (nuclei), and type D (glial cells); 34.1% of schizophrenics (27.3% after the absorption with rabbit liver acetone powder) showed type A, as compared with 3.8% (1.9% after the absorption) of depressives and with none of the controls.

Lithium and immune function

Lithium has potent antiviral and immunostimulating properties which are probably consequences of its actions on prostaglandin synthesis. Although lithium has considerable potential in the prophylaxis of some viral illnesses and other manifestations of defective immune function, it is, paradoxically, capable of activating autoimmune mechanisms in predisposed patients.