title: Immunofluorescent skin band test in the differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Forty-four uninvolved skin biopsies from lupus patients and 43 with various connective tissue diseases and nephritides other than lupus were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin deposition in the dermal-epidermal junction. Results were examined to determine their relationship to renal and clinical activity. Lupus band test (LBT) was positive in 30 (60%) SLE patients regardless of renal or clinical status. DNA-binding (p less than 0.01) and ANA (p less than 0.002) correlated to LBT. None of the other nephritides and only 2 with other connective tissue diseases were positive. LBT is a good aid in the differential diagnosis of SLE regardless of clinical or renal activity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests