An analysis of clinical disease activity and nephritis-associated serum autoantibody profiles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the correlation between lupus nephritis-associated autoantibody levels and the presence/activity of lupus nephritis and global disease activity using cross-sectional data in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Disease activity was assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index. Antibody levels against single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), histones, nucleosomes and heparan sulphate (HS) were analysed by ELISA in SLE patients with (n=11) and without (n=22) nephritis and in normal controls (n=21). Antibody subclasses were also analysed.


RESULTS
Higher levels of anti-dsDNA and anti-HS antibodies were found in patients with lupus nephritis, the level of anti-HS antibodies correlating with the BILAG renal score. Predominant subclasses were IgG1 and IgG3 for dsDNA antibodies, IgG2 for anti-nucleosome antibodies, and IgG2 and IgG3 for anti-HS antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Correlation was demonstrated between antibodies to dsDNA, ssDNA, histones, nucleosomes and HS. There is a strong correlation between the level of anti-HS antibodies and disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis as measured by BILAG.
Ravirajan
C T
CT
Centre for Rheumatology, Bloomsbury Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University College London, London W1T 4NJ, UK.
Rowse
L
L
MacGowan
J R
JR
Isenberg
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000276:immunology; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004247:DNA; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006657:Histones; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009707:Nucleosomes