title: Antinuclear antibodies are not induced by PUVA treatment in patients with uncomplicated psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous investigations of antinuclear antibody (ANA) prevalence in patients undergoing PUVA therapy reported contrasting results. However, ANA tests were performed on low-sensitivity substrates that do not allow investigation of anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed ANAs on a highly sensitive substrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  ANAs were assayed on HEp-2 cells at regular intervals in 238 patients with psoriasis who were treated with PUVA therapy for 1 to 5 years and in 118 untreated control subjects with psoriasis. In addition, radioimmunoassay and counterimmunoelectrophoresis studies of anti-DNA and anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low titers of ANA developed in three patients in at least two consecutive determinations and in 10 patients in a single determination despite continuing treatments. The positive conversion rate was not statistically significant. Radioimmunoassay counterimmunoelectrophoresis studies of anti-DNA and anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies were never positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience PUVA therapy does not represent a risk factor for the induction of anti-Ro antibodies and other ANAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Brescia University Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rastrelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zane
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Panfilis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000276:immunology; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D004247:DNA; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D008730:Methoxsalen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human; C035356:SS-A antibodies