Transient autoantibodies with elevated complement levels in common viral diseases

Autoantibodies including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-DNA antibody (ADA), and anti-nuclear factor (ANF) in addition to cold agglutinin and heterophil antibody titers were tested for in a total of 219 patients with common viral diseases. The diseases included varicella, influenza, measles, mumps, herpes zoster, hand-foot-mouth syndrome, and exanthem subitum . A high incidence of RF (23%) was demonstrated in varicella patients, and ADA and ANF (16% and 12%, respectively) were most frequently detected in the influenza cases. Those autoantibodies were most frequently found in patients with influenza. Each serum complement component and total hemolytic complement (CH50) were also assayed. Elevated levels of the fourth (C4) and ninth (C9) components of complement, along with elevated CH50, were observed in most patients. Follow-up studies indicated that those autoantibodies as well as other antibodies disappeared 3 to 8 weeks after the onset of infection. The present study indicates that substantial but transient alterations in the immune system accompanied by autoimmune phenomena and elevated levels in the complement components can occur in viral infections.