Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Lactoferrin is a multifunctional iron-binding protein present in several mucosal secretions as well as in secondary granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.Anti-Lactoferrin antibodies, which belong to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies have been described in several immunomediated diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and others, with conflicting results regarding either their prevalence or clinical associations.
OBJECTIVE:
Detection of anti-Lactoferrin antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and studying its association to disease activity in comparison to healthy controls.
PATIENT& METHODS :
The study involved 74 Systemic Lupus Erythematosis patients, 40 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who were referred to Immunological Department in Teaching laboratory Medical City during period of (1st of January – 31st of June) 2011 and 30 apparently healthy individual. Antinuclear antibody, complement C1q, rheumatoid factor and lactoferrin antibody were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique While double stranded DNA was detected by indirect immunofluorescent technique and complements (C3, C4) by single radial immune diffusion.
RESULTS:
Anti-lactoferrin Ab was detected in 14(18.9%) SLE patients, 4 (8.9%) Rheumatoid arthritis patients. Both C3&C4 levels were decreased significantly in Systemic lupus with positive anti lactoferrin Ab level in comparison to healthy controls( p value 0.024). In this regard Circulating immune complex was positive in 38(51.3%) systemic lupus patients only 12(31.5%) had positive lactoferrin antibody level, (p value 0.004).double stranded DNA was detected in 41(55.4%) Systemic lupus patients only 7(17.0%) of them had positive lactoferrin Ab level. Anti -Lactoferrin Abs showed neither a significant correlation with Rheumatoid factor IgG& IgM ( P value 0.159 ) nor with rheumatoid factor IgA ( P value 0. 857).
CONCLUSION:
Anti-lactoferrin antibodies could be detected in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and more often in patients with Systemic Lupus with significant correlation to decrease complements levels in comparison to healthy control.