[Clinical significance of antiribosomal antibodies. Study Group on Autoimmunity (GEAI)].
OBJECTIVE
Autoantibodies directed against the ribosomal P proteins, P0, P1 and P2 (anti-P), have been related to lupus-related psychosis and/or depression. The diagnostic value of antibodies directed against other ribosomal proteins or 28S RNA (anti-no-P) remains unknown. A multicenter study including ten centers belonging to the study group for autoimmune diseases (GEAI) was conducted in order to determine the diagnostic value of anti-P and anti-no-P antibodies in a large population of patients.


METHODS
The patients were selected on the basis of the presence of serum anti-ribosomal antibodies detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) on rat liver/kidney/stomach/pancreas sections and human HEp2 cells. The clinical course of all patients was studied using a predetermined survey. The specificity of anti-P antibodies were determined by Western blot.


RESULTS
Anti-ribosomal antibodies were found in 82 patients. Fifty-five of them had systemic lupus erythematosus and 27 had another disease. Only 54% of the anti-ribosomal antibodies detected by IF were anti-P and were found in 69% of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Anti-no-P antibodies (46%) were preferably detected in patients who suffered from another disease (78%). In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, neurological and psychiatric disorders were more frequent in the no-P group (47% vs. 16%, P < 0.01) than arthritis, which was found more frequently in the P group (78% vs. 53%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Anti P antibodies do not constitute a specific diagnostic marker of systemic lupus erythematosus, and lupus-related neuropsychiatric disorders would be preferably associated with the presence of anti no-P antibodies.
Johanet
C
C
Laboratoire d'immunologie, hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
André
C
C
Sibilia
J
J
Baquey
A
A
Oksman
F
F
San Marco
M
M
Humbel
R L
RL
Taillefer
M F
MF
Chrétien
P
P
Escande
A
A
Cohen
J
J
Chevailler
A
A
Monier
J C
JC
Goetz
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins