title: Anti-La (SS-B): a diagnostic criterion for Sjögren's syndrome?
abstract: We examined the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of antibodies to Ro (SS-A) and La (SS-B) in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. Anti-Ro was found in 56% and anti-La in 42% of patients with SS and in 38% and 6% respectively in SLE. Anti-La was rare (less than 1%) in other connective tissue diseases. As a more stringent test of diagnostic specificity, 88 patients whose sera contained anti-La and/or anti-Ro were carefully examined for evidence of Sjögren's syndrome. Of 35 patients whose sera contained anti-La, 29 (83%) fulfilled criteria for SS, and four out of 6 of the remainder showed some evidence of early disease. Of 53 patients with anti-Ro (without anti-La), only 42% had Sjögren's syndrome, 45% had SLE and 13% other connective tissue diseases. These data confirm that anti-La, but not anti-Ro, has a high diagnostic specificity for Sjögren's syndrome and merits inclusion as separate diagnostic criterion for the disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Division, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, U.K.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Venables
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shattles
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Pease
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Maini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human