[Heterophile antibodies].

Abstract

After a short history and definition of the heterophile antibodies (antibodies in the IgM class, reacting to the antigenic determinants common to several species of animals) the paper reports on the antigens generating heterophile antibodies: the Forssman antigen, the Hanganutziu-Deicher antigen, the Paul-Brunnell antigen, respectively. Data are presented on the structure of these antigens and the important in diagnosing the heterophile antibodies in a series of diseases: malignant tumours, lymphomas, leukemias, infections mononucleosis, rheumatoid polyarthritis, Kawasaki's disease, Marek's disease.