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Q J Med 1974; 43: 537-550
© 1974 Association of Physicians

research-article

Antibodies to Candida and Autoantibodies in Sub-acute Bacterial Endocarditis

P. A. BACON1, C. DAVIDSON2 and BARBARA SMITH

Departments of Cardiology and Immunology, St Bartholomew's Hospital London E.C.1

Received 16 February 1974 A prospective investigation has been carried out in thirteen patients with bacteriologically proven sub-acute bacterial endocarditis (SBE). This has shown that antibodies to candida, both precipitins and agglutinins, are common in SBE in patients who have no other evidence of candida infection. Autoantibodies are also found in the majority of patients. There was a high incidence of rheumatoid factor, as previously described, and also other autoantibodies. These included non-tissue specific antibodies, such as anti-nuclear factors and smooth muscle antibody, and also tissue specific antibodies directed at thyroid, skeletal muscle or gastric parietal cells. Bacteriological cure was associated with a reduction in titre of both types of antibody, suggesting that they reflect non-specific stimulation of humoral immunity by the disease activity. The immunological abnormalities may be the product of tissue damage by the disease, but there is some evidence that they may also contribute to the clinical manifestations of SBE, as they are associated with more severe and persistent disease.

1Present address: Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath.

2Present address: The General Infirmary, Leeds.


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