Cold reactive antilymphocyte antibodies in neurological diseases.

Abstract

Cold reactive (15.degree. C) antilymphocyte antibodies were detected in the sera of 33% of patients with multiple sclerosis, 50% with Guillain-Barre syndrome, 42% with myasthenia gravis and 38% with polymyositis. Such antibodies were not detected against autologous cells in multiple sclerosis. In multiple sclerosis there was no correlation between the presence of antilymphocytic antibodies and disease activity or duration. In patients with multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and polymyositis there was no correlation between the presence of cold reactive antilymphocyte antibodies and abnormalities of T [thymus-derived] or B [bone marrow-derived] cell levels.