Immunofluorescence method for detecting anti-myocardial antibodies, and its use in diagnosing heart disease

Demonstration of autoimmune antibodies to myocardial tissue enables one to detect and assess cardiac disease long after abnormalities in serum enzyme activities are no longer measurable. We describe and indirect immunofluorescence procedure in which cryostat sections of rat heart (ventricle) and Evan's Blue counterstaining are used to detect anti-myocardial antibodies. Sena from patients with myocardial infarct or some other cardiac diseases reveal a distinct fluorescent staining of the sarcolemmal membrane. In contrast, sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosis demonstrate nuclear plus diffuse staining and sera from myasthenia gravis patients show a characteristic striated staining pattern. The role of anti-myocardial antibodies in cardiac disease is discussed briefly.