ANTIBODY TO EXTRACTABLE NUCLEAR ANTIGEN IN THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 5  (4) , 399-406
Abstract
The prevalence of antibodies [Ab] to extractable nuclear antigen (anti-ENA) was studied in 284 patients with various rheumatic diseases using an improved hemagglutination technique. Anti-ENA rarely occurred in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis and Sjogren''s syndrome. Of patients fulfilling at least 4 preliminary ARA criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 17% (13/72) demonstrated anti-ENA. The predominant Ab was directed at RNase-resistant ENA (anti-Sm). Ab to RNase-sensitive ENA (anti-RNP) occurred in the minority of patients with SLE [systemic lupus erythematosus] (2/72) and the mixed connective tissue disease syndrome (MCTD). A trend toward an increased incidence of renal disease in SLE patients with anti-Sm was present. Sequential analysis of anti-Sm in patients with SLE showed a fall in titer paralleling the normalization of anti-DNA Ab titers and serum complement values. No case of unrecognized MCTD was uncovered in our rheumatic disease population.