A new ELISA for autoantibodies to steroid 21-hydroxylase.

Background: A new ELISA for autoantibodies to steroid 21-hydroxylase (21-OH Ab) is described.

Methods: In the assay test sample autoantibodies form a bridge between 21-OH coated onto the plate well and liquid phase 21-OH-biotin. Bound 21-OH-biotin is detected by the addition of streptavidin peroxidase and colorogenic peroxidase substrate.

Results: Of 100 samples from patients with autoimmune Addison's disease, 86 (86%) were positive for 21-OH Ab ELISA whereas 84 (84%) were positive in an immunoprecipitation assay based on 125I-labeled 21-OH. Six (0.6%) of 928 healthy adult blood donors and 1 (2.0%) of 49 adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) were positive by ELISA. No samples from adult patients with Graves' disease (GD; n=50), celiac disease (n=29), systemic lupus erythematosis (n=9) or rheumatoid arthritis (n=20) were positive by ELISA. However, 2/51 (3.9%) children with GD, 3/69 (4.3%) children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and 3/119 (2.5%) children with T1DM alone or associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders were ELISA positive.

Conclusions: The new assay should be useful for screening patients known to be at increased risk of developing clinical autoimmune Addison's disease, in particular children with HT, GD and/or T1DM.