title: Antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus-how common?
abstract: A review of five years' DNA-binding antibody results in a routine service laboratory revealed 38 patients who had high DNA-binding capacity (DNA-bc) but no antinuclear antibodies (ANA). On retrospective case note analysis, 22 patients (58%) were thought to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although only six (16%) fulfilled the preliminary classification criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (ARA). Our findings indicate that ANA-negative SLE is commoner than generally realised and lead us to recommended the measurement of DNA-bc in every case where clinically appropriate.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004247:DNA