title: Antibodies to histone (H2A-H2B)-DNA complexes in the absence of antibodies to double-stranded DNA or to (H2A-H2B) complexes are more sensitive and specific for scleroderma-related disorders than for lupus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of antibodies to histones H2A, H2B, and anti-double-stranded DNA which form (H2A-H2B)-DNA complexes in patients with scleroderma-related disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antihistone antibodies were measured, by enzyme immunoassay, in 26 patients with scleroderma-related disorders, 100 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies to histone (H2A-H2B)-DNA complex were more commonly seen in patients with scleroderma-related disorders than in those with SLE (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scleroderma-related disorders should be included among conditions in which various types of antihistone antibodies are produced. A hypothesis to account for this finding is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: G Q
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D006657:Histones; D004247:DNA