HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maltaner, E. Articles by Maltaner, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Maltaner, E. Articles by Maltaner, F.

Standardization of the Cardiolipin-Lecithin-cholesterol Antigen in the Complement-Fixation Test with Cerebrospinal Fluid

(From the Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany)

Abstract

The study of cardiolipin antigen with cerebrospinal fluids supplements one previously made with serum to demonstrate the relationships between the three constituents—cardiolipin, lecithin, and cholesterol—essential to the standardization of the test.

Neither cardiolipin nor lecithin alone had antigenic action with cerebrospinal fluids. In contrast to the results with serum, the anticomplementary activity of cardiolipin was somewhat more marked in the presence than in the absence of cerebrospinal fluids.

Mixtures containing lecithin and cardiolipin, without cholesterol, in ratios between 3:1 and 10:1 were highly antigenic. Raising or lowering the proportion of lecithin diminished the reaction.

In cholesterolized mixtures the ratio of cholesterol:lecithin required for optimal reaction gradually increased as the lecithin:cardiolipin ratio decreased; namely, from 2:1 in solutions containing lecithin:cardiolipin in ratio of 20:1, to 5:1 in solutions containing lecithin and cardiolipin in ratio of 1.25:1. However, the several optimally sensitized solutions containing lecithin and cardiolipin in ratios varying from 20:1 to 1.25:1 did not differ as markedly in reactivity with cerebrospinal fluids as they did in tests of serum.

Anticomplementary reaction appeared in cholesterolized solutions containing as little as 1.25 parts of lecithin to 1 of cardiolipin.

A solution containing lecithin and cardiolipin in ratio of 5:1 and cholesterol in ratio of 3.4:1 with lecithin such as was previously recommended for use in tests of serum appears satisfactory also for use with cerebrospinal fluids. The composition of the antigen used and the saline dilutions required for optimal reaction in the quantitatively standardized complement-fixation test are indicated.