title: The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) skin test in systemic lupus erythematosus. I. Clinical evaluation.
abstract: A clinical evaluation of the intradermal DNA-test was carried out on a series of patients with untreated or with treated definite systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or with suspected SLE with or without circulating antinuclear factors. A saline solution of a commercially available DNA-preparation was used. The course of the DNA reaction was followed for 24-48 h after the injection. All nine cases of untreated definite SLE had a positive DNA test 6 h after the injection, and eight cases a positive result at 24 h. All seven patients with definite SLE who were on low-dosage systemic steroid treatment had a clinically positive. DNA test at 6 h. In all except one of these cases the test was still positive at 24 h. All five patients with definite SLE on antimalarial treatment had a positive test at 6 h which had become negative at 24 h after the injection. Eleven of the twelve patients with suspected SLE and circulating antinuclear factors had a positive DNA test at 6 h, which in nine cases persisted for 24 h. On the other hand, of the eleven ANF negative patients with various connective tissue diseases five had a positive test at 6 h. In only one of these cases it persisted for 24 h. Two of the eighteen control patients with various dermatoses exhibited a positive test at 6 h, and in one of these the positive reaction persisted for 24 h. It is concluded that the intradermal skin test using native DNA is a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of SLE when the reaction is followed up for 24 h. Antimalarial treatment seems to decrease skin reactivity to native DNA.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000962:Antimalarials; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA