[The kinetoplast immunofluorescence technic using Crithidia luciliae, a simple test for the detection of...

The kinetoplast immunofluorescence test for the detection of antibodies against desoxynucleic acid (DNA) utilizes as a substrate the native double-stranded DNA containing kinetoplast of the hemoflagellate Crithidia luciliae, which is nonpathogenic in human beings. By studying the sera of 279 patients with dermatological and internal diseases, as well as the sera of 80 blood donors, this technique was assessed for its usefulness in routine diagnosis. DNA-antibodies were found most frequently in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (34/53). Additionally DNA-antibodies were demonstrated in some patients with cicatrical pemphigoid (1/1), autoimmune hepatitis (4/25) and myasthenia gravis (1/3). According to the experience thus far the kinetoplast immunofluorescence test appears to be a specific and well reproducible method to demonstrate DNA-antibodies in a simple way.