A COMPARISON OF SEROLOGIC REACTIVITY AMONG SLE PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT ANTI-RO (SS-A) ANTIBODIES

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 11  (3) , 315-317
Abstract
The serum from 112 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was examined to compare serologic reactivity among anti-Ro positive and anti-Ro negative patients. While hypergammaglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor (RF) and elevated Clq [complement component 1q] binding were significantly more frequent among the anti-Ro positive group there was no increase in the frequency of anti-dsDNA [double stranded DNA] antibody measured by the Farr assay or antibodies to ssDNA, dsDNA, poly dG .cntdot. poly dC, poly (dA-dT) and cardiolipin measured by ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay]. Patients with the highest levels of anti-DNA antibody by the Farr assay did not have any increased frequency of anti-Ro antibodies. Anti-Ro and anti-DNA antibodies are apparently independently regulated. The frequent occurrence of RF in anti-Ro positive SLE patient may provide a useful screening assay for this autoantibody among pregnant SLE patients.