title: [The lupus band test in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus: its decisive usefulness in cases negative for anti-ds-DNA and anti-SM].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate an immunofluorescence skin test, the lupus band test (LBT), in comparison to other criteria as classified by the American Rheumatic Association for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Twenty patients with SLE and another 24 with different connective tissue diseases (rheumatoid arthritis 16, dermatomyositis 3, necrotizing vasculitis 5) were studied. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) appeared very sensitive (100%) in the diagnosis of LES, though with a low specificity (63%). LBT was however both sensitive (80%) and specific (100%). Others ARA laboratory criteria (anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, VDRL and hematological disorders) were also less sensitive and/or less specific than LBT. Most interestingly, LBT was positive in 7 SLE cases in which both dsDNA and Sm antibodies were negative. Thus, LBT appears a useful test in the diagnosis of SLE. In addition, it may be of critical value in certain subsets of patients in which the present ARA criteria may not suffice for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Reumatologia, II Facoltà Medicina e Chirurgia, Università, Napoli.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrela
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casiere
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larizza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Puente
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: di Girolamo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: della Valle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oriente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D004247:DNA
vernacular_title: Il lupus band test nella diagnosi del lupus eritematoso sistemico: sua decisiva utilità nei casi anti ds-DNA ed anti-Sm negativi.