Prevalence of autoantibodies among patients presented to Sultan Qaboos University hospital (SQUH)

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of autoantibodies among patients presented to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH).Materialsvarious clinics in SQUH during the period from Jun 2009 to Jun 2011, from patients who were suspected of having autoimmune related disorders. Tests for antinuclear, anti-n-DNA, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic, anti-islet cell, anti-skin, anti-gastric parietal cell, anti-glomerular basement membrane, anti-reticulin mitochondrial antibodies were performed by the use of indirect immunefluorescence assays on various substrates. ELISA techniques were used to measure anticardiolipin and anti-ENA antibodies. Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens were also measured by the use of latex agglutination, while anti-thyroid antibodies (ATA & ATMA) were measured by haemagglutination assays.ResultsThe ages of the patients ranged from >1 year to 85 years. The major number of tests wasrequested by Rheumatology department. In general the majority of patients were female (67%) and among that, Omani nationals constituted 42% of all female patients. A prevalence of autoantibodies of 31% was found and 74% of that was found in Oman patients.ConclusionThe low percentage of positive samplesdoes not necessarily reflect the true ofautoantibodies but is simply due to over requesting of tests.