Figure 4.

Variations of the levels of anti-dsDNA, anti-C1q antibodies, and SLEDAI-2K in 12 SLE follow-up patients having significant changes of anti-DFS70 antibodies by LIA. Significant changes in the levels of anti-DFS70 antibodies, including the conversion between positive and negative, and changed one or more positive levels within the intensity classification scheme of LIA. The upper and lower panels respectively show patients with decreasing and increasing results of anti-DFS70 antibodies by LIA from the first visit to the last visit during the follow-up. (A) In patients with a downtrend of anti-DFS70 antibodies (Pat 1-8), a similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and anti-dsDNA in seven of eight patients except for Pat 7. A similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and anti-C1q in five of eight patients except for Pat 3, Pat 7, and Pat 8. A similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and SLEDAI-2K in four of eight patients except for Pat 4, Pat 6, Pat 7, and Pat 8. (B) In patients with an upward trend of anti-DFS70 antibodies (Pat 9–12), a similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and anti-dsDNA in three of four patients except for Pat 11. No similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and anti-C1q. A similar variation trend was observed between anti-DFS70 and SLEDAI-2K in three of four patients, except for Pat 10. Red, anti-dsDNA; purple, anti-C1q; brown, SLEDAI-2K; black, anti-DFS70; x-axis, time points of measurement (the time point of the first visit was set as 1). Classification of line intensity by LIA: index 0–0.79, intensity (−), negative; index 0.8–1.14; intensity (o), borderline; index 1.15–2.49, intensity (+), weak positive; index 2.50–3.99, intensity (++), mid-level positive; index ≥4.00, intensity (+++), strong positive. DFS70, dense fine speckles 70; LIA, line immunoassay; Pat, patient; SLEDAI-2K, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000.