Table 5. Association between ANA patterns and specific serological markers.
Data on CRP, aCL IgG and IgM, b2-IgG&IgM, lupus anticoagulant, and direct Coombs test are represented as n(%). The p-values for CRP, aCL IgG and IgM, b2-IgG&IgM, lupus anticoagulant, and direct Coombs test were calculated using the chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data on anti-dsDNA are represented as mean and standard deviation (SD). Data on C3 and C4 are represented as median and interquartile range (IQR). The p-values for anti-dsDNA, C3, and C4 were calculated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
ANA: antinuclear antibody, CRP: C-reactive protein, anti-dsDNA: anti–double stranded DNA, ACL: anti-cardiolipin antibody, IgM: immunoglobulin M, IgG: immunoglobulin G
| Assay | Factor/level | Pattern | p-value | |||
| Nucleus speckled (n=108) | Nucleus homogeneous (n=56) | Mixed (n=28) | Cytoplasm granular (n=12) | |||
| CRP, n (%) | Positive | 22 (20.4) | 10 (17.9) | 2(7.1) | 4(33.3) | 0.2 |
| Negative | 82(76) | 26 (46.4) | 14(50) | 4(33.3) | ||
| Not sent | 4 (3.6) | 30 (35.7) | 12 (42.9) | 4 (33.3) | ||
| anti-dsDNA, IU/ml | Mean | 300.2 | 473.85 | 357.14 | 627.8 | <0.05 |
| SD | 299.10 | 316.90 | 290.80 | 18.18 | ||
| C3, mg/dl | Median | 57 | 70.8 | 76.8 | 117.2 | <0.05 |
| IQR | 65 | 63.75 | 60 | 45.75 | ||
| C4, mg/dl | Median | 17 | 12.7 | 10 | 30.75 | <0.05 |
| IQR | 13.8 | 13.525 | 10.5 | 14.2 | ||
| ACL IgG, n (%) | Negative | 56(51.8) | 34(60.7) | 20 (71.5) | 4(33.3) | <0.05 |
| Positive | 14 (13) | 0 | 2 (7.1) | 0 | ||
| Not sent | 38 (35.2) | 22 (39.3) | 6 (21.4) | 8 (66.7) | ||
| ACL IgM, n (%) | Negative | 68(62.9) | 32 (57.1) | 20 (71.5) | 4(33.3) | 0.6 |
| Positive | 2(1.9) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.1) | 0 | ||
| Not sent | 38 (35.2) | 22 (39.3) | 6 (21.4) | 8 (66.7) | ||
| b2-IgG, n (%) | Negative | 62 (57.4) | 30 (53.6) | 12 (42.9) | 4(33.3) | 0.6 |
| Positive | 4 (3.7) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.1) | 0 | ||
| Not sent | 12 (38.9) | 21 (4.8) | 14 (50) | 8 (66.7) | ||
| b2-IgM, n (%) | Negative | 62 (55.2) | 30 (53.6) | 12 (42.9) | 4(33.3) | 0.6 |
| Positive | 4 (1.9) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.1) | 0 | ||
| Not sent | 12 (38.9) | 24 (4.8) | 14 (50) | 8 (66.7) | ||
| Lupus anticoagulant, n (%) | Negative | 62 (55.2) | 30 (53.6) | 12 (42.9) | 4(33.3) | 0.6 |
| Positive | 4 (1.9) | 2 (3.6) | 2 (7.1) | 0 | ||
| Not sent | 12 (38.9) | 24 (4.8) | 14 (50) | 8 (66.7) | ||
| Direct Coombs test, n (%) | Negative | 22(20.4) | 4 (7.2) | 4 (14.3) | 4(33.3) | <0.05 |
| Positive | 44 (40.7) | 34 (60.7) | 16 (57.1) | 4(33.3) | ||
| Not sent | 42(38.9) | 18 (32.1) | 8 (28.6) | 4(33.3) | ||