Abstract
Methods: A consecutive cohort of 289 patients with SLE was included; 235 fulfilled ACR criteria for SLE and were further analysed. ANA profiles were determined by line immunoassay and by indirect immunofluorescence on Crithidia luciliae. An extensive list of signs/symptoms was evaluated.
Results: Five clusters of antibodies were defined by cluster analysis: 1—antibodies to SmB, SmD, RNP-A, RNP-C, and RNP-70k; 2—antibodies to Ro52, Ro60, and SSB; 3, 4, and 5—antibodies to ribosomal P, histones and dsDNA, respectively. Significant associations (p⩽0.01) were found between anti-RNP-70k, anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-C and Raynaud's phenomenon, between anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-70k and leucopenia, and between anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-C and a lower prevalence of urine cellular casts. Anti-SSA, anti-SSB were associated with xerostomia, and anti-SSB with pericarditis. Antibodies to ribosomal P were associated with haemolytic anaemia, leucopenia, and alopecia. Patients with anti-dsDNA antibodies had a higher risk for cellular casts and a lower risk for photosensitivity. Antihistone antibodies were associated with arthritis.
Conclusions: In a large and consecutive cohort of patients with SLE, clusters of antibodies were identified. Previously reported associations of antibodies with symptoms were confirmed and new associations found.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (68.1 KB).
Figure 1.
Cluster analysis, identifying clusters of autoantibodies (dendrogram). The scale indicates the distance level between the different variables. Two clusters of autoantibodies are formed early: cluster 1 is formed by RNP-70, RNP-A, SmB, RNP-C, and SmD; cluster 2 is formed by Ro52, SSB, and Ro60; while the other antibodies do not cluster early and are therefore considered to be a cluster by themselves: cluster 3 consists of ribosomal P, cluster 4 consists of histones, and cluster 5 consists of dsDNA.