Frequency and significance of anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies in multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and significance of antinuclear (ANA), anticardiolipin (ACA) and anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.


METHODS
ANA (indirect immunofluorescence), ACA and anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies (ELISA) were tested in sera of 42 patients with Poser defined MS and 50 healthy individuals.


RESULTS
High levels of anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies were found in 3 patients (7%) (vs 0 in the control group). Two of them had normal salivary gland biopsy. Clinical MS form was chronic-progressive in 2 cases and relapsing-remitting in the third one. Ten patients (23%) had low levels of ANA (vs 4%), none of them positive for anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies. Only 1 patient (2%) with RR clinical form had ACA (vs 0). No clinical or neuroradiological differences with conventional MS patients were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
ANA, ACA and anti-Ro (SS-A) antibodies in MS patients indicate an underlying autoimmune disease but our series suggests that they are an epiphenomenon of a more diffuse immunological dysfunction.
de Andrés
C
C
Departments of Neurology, Immunology and Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Guillem
A
A
Rodríguez-Mahou
M
M
López Longo
F J
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C035356:SS-A antibodies