Patent ID: 6342394
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of screening for autoantibodies to 21-hydroxylase in a sample of body fluid obtained from a subject suspected of suffering from, susceptible to, or having autoimmune adrenal disease, said method comprising:(a) providing said sample of said body fluid from said subject; (b) contacting said sample with at least one epitope region selected from the group consisting of amino acids 335 to 339 (SEQ ID Nos. 5 or 6) of 21-hydroxylase, amino acids 406 to 411 (SEQ ID Nos. 3 or 4) of 21-hydroxylase and amino acids 391 to 405 (SEQ ID Nos. 1 or 2) of 21-hydroxylase, so as to permit said epitope region to bind to autoantibodies to 21-hydroxylase present in said sample; and (c) monitoring the degree of binding of autoantibodies to 21-hydroxylase present in said sample to said epitope region thereby providing an indication of the presence of autoantibodies to 21-hydroxylase in said sample.