[Autoimmune reactions to myoglobin in myocardial infarct patients]

Autoimmune responses to myoglobin were studied in patients with myocardial infarction at different disease stages. It was revealed that during myocardial infarction, the clone of lymphocytes reacting with myoglobin was activated. Besides, these patients showed sensitized T lymphocytes with high cytotoxic activity, lymphotoxins and leukocyte migration inhibition factor, attesting to the development of the delayed type hypersensitivity to myoglobin. It was demonstrated that lymphotoxin assay in the blood might be of importance for differential diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris with a long-term painful syndrome.