[Seroprevalence of antinuclear antibodies in blood donors in the Yaqui Valley].

BACKGROUND: Antinuclear antibodies are immunoglobulins that recognize autologous nuclear and cytoplasmic cellular components. In healthy persons they are not associated with autoimmune disease. However, they may be related to an immune risk phenotype that has not been sufficiently studied. We undertook this study to examine the presence of antinuclear antibodies in serum from blood donors.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study on 379 blood donors between 18 and 65 years old. Serum for the presence of antinuclear antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence in HEp-2 cells was analyzed. The prevalence and pattern of expression were compared with age, gender, and history of rheumatic or thyroid disease.

RESULTS: Prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in the study population was 13%. Most of the positive subjects were between 21 and 40 years old. Male gender expressed a greater proportion of positivity (11%) than females (2%). Likewise, 82% of males had low titers (1:80) and nucleolar type in 66% of cases (OR = 10.66 [1.83 to 62.18], p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of antinuclear antibodies in healthy individuals at low levels may not mean an autoimmune condition; however, it could reflect exposure to environmental factors that have not been sufficiently studied. New studies of healthy individuals are necessary in order to explain the association between the presence of these antibodies and toxic and environmental factors and their effects on health.