title: Antiribonucleoprotein antibodies in connective tissue diseases: estimation by counterimmunoelectrophoresis.
abstract: One hundred and seventy-two patients with various connective tissue diseases were investigated for the presence of serum antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) and its major components, ribonucleo-protein (RNP) and Sm antigen. The counter-immunoelectrophoresis assay allowed independent detection and measurement of antibodies to the different components. All 13 patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) had anti-RNP antibody in high titres, 16% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had low titres, and none of the patients with scleroderma had anti-RNP antibody. MCTD seems to be more benign than either SLE or scleroderma. The counterimmunoelectrophoresis assay is a simple and sensitive technique for confirming the diagnosis.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins