Evolution time and longitudinal studies of the anti-S-antigen antibody titers in retinitis pigmentosa.

Sixty-six patients with retinitis pigmentosa (forma simplex) and 37 control patients were studied for titers of anti-S-antigen auto-antibodies by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA). A longitudinal study showed a positive significance (P less than 0.01) which demonstrated the uniformity of the data obtained. Comparison of the anti-S-antigen titers of the patients and controls revealed a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.001) between both populations. The relationship between the time of evolution of retinitis pigmentosa and the anti-S-antigen titers also showed a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.005). These results show both a rise in the anti-S-antigen antibody titers in relation to the evolution time of retinitis pigmentosa and a uniformity in the data obtained in the anti-S-antigen antibody longitudinal study carried out.