CHARACTERISATION OF IDIOPATHIC ADDISON'S DISEASE BY ANTIBODY STUDIES

Abstract

The existence of three genetically distinct types of idiopathic Addison's disease has been proven by family analysis (Spinner et al, 1968). Antiadrenal antibodies are demonstrable in the majority of patients with the different types of disease using complement fixation and immunofluorescence (IF) techniques. - Using IF and gel filtration (GF) techniques we have demonstrated distinction of the endocrinopathy - moniliasis syndrome (EMS) by presence of precipitating antiadrenal antibodies. These GF-detectable antibodies are not the same as those demonstrable by IF, but the occurrence is mostly parallel. - Of 21 patients, 3–23 years of age, with EMS, antiadrenal antibodies were demonstrable by IF in 16, and also by GF in 11 of these. 10 of the 16 had Addison's disease, of these 9 were positive by IF and 6 by GF. In 5 of them the antibodies were detected before a distinct clinical manifestation of this disease. One, who had the disease already for ten years prior to the study, was negative by both IF and GF. 11 had so far only other components of the syndrome, 7 of them were positive by IF and 5 by GF. - Of 15 patients, 8–48 years of age, with Addison's disease alone, antiadrenal antibodies were demonstrable by IF in 14, but in none by GF. - Of 5 patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroiditis, or both (Schmidt's syndrome), 22–60 years of age, antiadrenal antibodies were demonstrable by IF in 4, but in none by GF.