[Direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies in congestive myocardial diseases]

Immunfluorescence examinations were made on 118 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy. Standard techniques of direct immunfluorescence (DIF) were employed on myocardial biopsy material in 61 cases, and of indirect immunfluorescence (IIF) on the serum in 89 cases. On the basis of the assumed aetiologies, the patients were classified into 6 groups: definitely alcoholic, presumably alcoholic, familial, peripartum, chronic myocarditic and idiopathic; studies were then made of the frequencies of pathological immunological processes in the individual groups. The highest incidences of DIF-positive cases were observed in the familial, peripartum, chronic myocarditic and idiopathic groups (67-87%). In the presumably alcoholic group the corresponding incidence was 37%, and in the definitely alcoholic group it was 25%, in contrast with expectations. Interestingly, very strong IIF-positive reactions too were observed in these alcoholic groups. It is possible that, besides the effect of alcohol, the fact that the immune background becomes pathological is also a significant factor in the emergence of the congestive cardiomyopathy in the alcoholic groups.