Detection of anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies by gel double diffusion and a 'sandwich' ELISA in systemic and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome.
A newly described Ro 'sandwich' ELISA was compared to the gel double diffusion technique to detect anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies in Sjögren's syndrome, systemic and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients. This study demonstrates that the ELISA assay increased the frequency of detection of anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies in these well defined connective tissue disease patients by approximately 5-10% compared to the gel double diffusion anti-Ro(SSA) antibody assay. The study also confirms that some patients make anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies directed solely at unique human Ro(SSA) antigen epitopes. We also detected the existence of a significant Sjögren's syndrome patient population failing to make significant anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies. We conclude from our study that the gel double-diffusion technique employing human spleen extract as a source of the Ro(SSA) antigen is, at present, the most cost-effective test to detect anti-Ro(SSA) antibodies.
Provost
T T
TT
Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Levin
L S
LS
Watson
R M
RM
Mayo
M
M
Ratrie
H
H
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000379:methods*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human; C035356:SS-A antibodies