[A serological criterion for Bechterew's disease. Demonstration of a new antibody specificity with polytene chromosomes]

A new antibody reacting with an antigen from polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster has been found in serum of patients with Bechterew's disease. This antigen-antibody system differs from other nuclear antibodies (anti-RNP, anti-Sm, anti-Ha/SS-B) in that it is not detectable by counter-immunoelectrophoresis. The antibody could be detected in 24 out of 62 Morbus Bechterew sera in which the antibody did not strictly correlate with the appearance of HLA-B27 antigen. The new antibody specificity is a specific serological finding in patients with Bechterew's disease and is therefore suitable for use as a diagnostic, and perhaps also as a prognostic test for this type of spondylarthritis till now assumed to be seronegative.