Abstract
Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) examined by indirect immunofluorescent technique, anti-single stranded (ss) DNA antibody assayed as 14C•ssDNA bindings using Farr's method, and antilymphocyte antibody (ALA) assayed by cytotoxic test were examined simultaneously in sera from personnel working in SLE clinic, non-SLE clinic, and sera from blood donors. Six out of 70 (8.6%) SLE clinic workers, 2 out of 30 (6.7%) non-SLE clinic workers, and none of blood donors were determined to have ANA. Eighteen out of 70 (25.7%) SLE clinic workers, 5 out of 30 (16.7%) non-SLE clinic workers and 4 out of 96 (4.2%) blood donors were revealed to have anti-ssDNA antibody. Ten percent of SLE clinic workers, none of non-SLE clinic workers, and 4.2% of blood donors were also determined positive for ALA. In a group of SLE clinic workers, significant anti-ssDNA antibody was evaluated comparing in titer to blood donors (P<0.005). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in ALA titer and appearance of ANA in these three groups of sera. These three autoantibodies showed independent appearance with each other, without indicating the effect of ALA to the induction of other autoantibodies. Although significant titer of anti-ssDNA antibody was demonstrated in a group of sera from SLE clinic workers, especially in women, it is impossible to make clear the transmission of serologic abnormalities from SLE patients to medical workers.
