title: Antibodies to Sm in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Correlation of Sm antibody titers with disease activity and other laboratory parameters.
abstract: Thirty patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied over a 2.5-year period. The group was divided into 14 patients with antibodies to Sm and a control group that failed to exhibit antibodies to Sm over the study period. The titer of antibodies to Sm fluctuated in all 14. A rising titer of antibodies to Sm 1) predicted a flare disease in 50% an 2) correlated with an exacerbation of disease in 60%. Patients with antibodies to Sm had a comparable incidence of severe disease, renal disease, and central nervous system disease. They exhibited significantly more leukopenia and antibodies to non-Sm, non-RNP extractable nuclear antigen. In only 1 patient, a rise in titer of antibodies to Sm did not correlate with or predict a disease flare in contradistinction to other serologic markers of SLE, specifically antibodies to double-stranded DNA and cryoglobulins. Though infrequently detected, antibodies to Sm can help in the management of patients with SLE.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D001324:Autoantigens; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins; D004247:DNA