CLINICAL-FEATURES OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS WITH ANTI-HISTONE ANTIBODIES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (1) , 46-51
Abstract
The presenting features of 25 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with antihistone antibodies were compared to 25 age- and sex-matched patients who had antibodies to Sm, ribonuclear protein, Sjogren''s syndrome antigen B and native DNA. The SLE patients with antihistone antibodies had a significantly lower frequency of renal disease, CNS disease, alopecia, anemia and hypocomplementemia. Nine of 25 (36%) age- and sex-matched RA [rheumatoid arthritis] patients had antihistone antibodies but in lower titers than the SLE patients. There was no correlation of antihistone antibody titers with disease activity, corticosteroid therapy or rheumatoid factor titer. Histone-antihistone complexes did not bind complement components of either the classical or alternative pathway of complement.