Characteristic anti-heart antibody patterns in post-cardiac injury syndrome, endocarditis and acute myocarditis.

Anti-heart and anti-endothelial antibodies were visualized using an indirect immunofluorescence technique and anti-actin, anti-myosin, anti-collagen and anti-myolemmal antibodies were determined in patients with different cardiac diseases. Different patterns of anti-heart antibodies could be demonstrated. In acute myocarditis especially, anti-endothelial and anti-myolemmal antibodies were found, while anti-endothelial and anti-collagen antibodies were found in endocarditis and anti-myosin antibodies in post-cardiac injury syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]