title: Stability of immunoblot profile of anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies over time in mothers whose children have neonatal lupus.
abstract: Neonatal lupus is strongly associated with antibodies reactive with SSA/Ro-SSB/La proteins, independent of maternal disease activity or classification. We sought to determine whether the fine specificity of antibody profiles remains stable or evolves over time and whether these findings relate to clinical status. Sera from 23 mothers whose children had neonatal lupus (22 heart block, one skin) were evaluated by SDS-immunoblot. For each mother two samples were available at least 13 months apart; the mean duration of time between testing was 45 months +/- 27 S.D. (range 13-108 months). Twenty-two of the 23 initial profiles were identical to the results obtained in a later sample. The health status of seven (30%) of 23 mothers changed after the birth of the affected infant but the immunoblot specificity of the antibodies remained unchanged. SLE was the initial and final diagnosis in the only mother whose profiles differed, with development of weak reactivity to 48 kD SSB/La in addition to the 52kD SSA/Ro after 14 months. In conclusion, the fine specificity of anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies as assessed by immunoblot is highly stable for years. Progression of clinical status was not associated with a concomitant change in antibody profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buyon
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035356:SS-A antibodies; C035357:SS-B antibodies