Serologic and immunopathologic findings in temporal arteritis.
In 104 patients undergoing biopsies for temporal arteritis, lymphocyte characterization identified both T4 helper/inducer and T8 cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes in approximately equal numbers. B lymphocytes were absent. Deposition of IgM and IgG was observed in three of 16 positive biopsy specimens. Antinuclear antibodies were present in ten of 16 biopsy-proven cases of temporal arteritis compared with 19 of 55 in the control group with negative biopsy specimens. Anti-smooth-muscle, anti-DNA, and antimitochondrial antibodies were not useful in distinguishing between the two groups.
Antibodies, Antinuclear↗