Anti-heart antibodies in cardiac allograft recipients

Serum antibodies reactive with rat cardiac and skeletal muscle were found by indirect immunofluorescence in 11 of 16 heart transplant patients receiving heterologous antithymocyte globulin and 1 of 5 patients receiving cyclosporin A. These antibodies appeared de novo following transplantation and were present for variable lengths of time. Antibodies reactive with rat liver, stomach and kidney were also found in several patients, 9 out of 16 patients receiving equine globulin had antibodies directed against components of the microvasculature, including endothelial, smooth muscle and vessel wall connective tissue. Analysis of antibody kinetics and acute cardiac rejection did not reveal any well-defined associations, though anti-heart antibodies were present in 4 of 6 patients who died from acute rejection.