title: Antilactoferrin antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Lactoferrin is a secondary granule protein of neutrophils. Seventy-nine systemic lupus erythematosus patients who fulfilled the ARA criteria for classification were tested for antibody against human lactoferrin (LF-ab) by ELISA. Thirty-one of these (39.2%) demonstrated elevated levels. There was significant correlation between LF-ab positivity and disease duration. Clinical flare was common with positive LF-ab (P less than 0.05). Disease manifestations were independent of antibody status except for an increased incidence of lymphadenopathy and crescentic gomerulonephritis among those who had LF-ab. No consistent immunofluorescence pattern could be demonstrated on alcohol-fixed neutrophils for the LF-ab positive sera. It is suggested that LF-ab is related to lupus activity, and can be useful as a marker for disease monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Medical A. Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin