title: The use of anti-ribosomal P antibodies in the diagnosis of cerebral lupus---superiority of western blotting over enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: This study investigated the use of anti-ribosomal P antibodies in the diagnosis of cerebral complications of systemic lupus erythematosus using two different methods---western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-ribosomal P antibodies in patient serum were detected in both methods using a purified ribosomal P antigen substrate. Western blotting detected anti-ribosomal P antibodies with a 90% specificity for systemic lupus erythematosus in 56% of patients with the disease. The detection of anti-ribosomal P antibodies by western blotting in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was significantly associated with psychosis and/or seizures; detection was positive in 90% of patients with these cerebral complications and in 41% of those without. Elevation of the level of anti-ribosomal P antibody, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was 99% specific for systemic lupus erythematosus in 44% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus that was not associated with cerebral involvement. We conclude that the measurement of anti-ribosomal P antibodies by western blotting is helpful in the diagnosis of cerebral lupus in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: E YT
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: O KH
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: J WM
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lau