The LAI test in specific immune-reactivity studies of fibrocytic breast disease

Sixteen cases of fibrocystic breast disease at different histopathologic stages were examined with the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay. Skeletal muscle and gastric carcinoma extracts were used as controls. The glass adherence of leukocytes from patients affected by fibrocystic breast disease was more inhibited when extracts from breasts with fibrocystic disease were used rather than control extracts. Nonadherence indexes (NAIs) were high in 8 cases, around 20 in 4 cases, a little above zero in 2 cases and below zero in 2 cases. NAIs were related to the histopathologic stage: the highest NAIs were found in 8 cases of classic fibrocystic disease, the lowest in 1 case of simple breast fibrosis.