title: Relationship of clinical findings in systemic lupus erythematosus to seroreactivity.
abstract: We have characterized 52 consecutive patients fulfilling 4 or more of the American Rheumatism Association criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus in order to provide, for the first time, a homogeneous sample for statistical comparison of antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positive and ANA-negative groups. Ten patients (19%) were seronegative. There was no significant difference in age, disease activity, organ system involvement, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immune complex levels, or C3 levels. The ANA-negative group showed a higher incidence of involvement for whites and men. Leukopenia, lower levels of antibody to DNA, and higher C4 levels were also characteristic of the ANA-negative group.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D015932:Complement C3c; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D015932:Complement C3c; D004247:DNA; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor