title: Anti La(SSB) identifies a distinctive subgroup of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The relevance of antibodies for La(SSB) as a marker of a distinctive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) subset was studied in 185 lupus patients. Anti La was detected in 39 (21%) and was accompanied invariably by anti Ro. Clinically, anti La-positive patients were distinguished by a later age of disease onset, and a low frequency of lupus nephritis. In common with other anti Ro-positive patients they showed a high frequency of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Anti La identified patients with higher titres of anti Ro antibodies and was significantly associated with HLA-DR3. Serological markers such as these are useful for identifying more homogeneous populations of SLE patients for studies of aetiology and pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Upper Borough Walls, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Goulding
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leddy
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000150:complications; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; C035356:SS-A antibodies; C035357:SS-B antibodies; D004247:DNA