title: Clinical significance of antinucleosome antibodies in Tunisian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of antinucleosome antibodies in Tunisian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. IgG antinucleosome antibodies were detected by a qualitative enzyme immunoassay (immunodot) in the sera of SLE patients at onset of disease. The patients were divided into two groups according to the result of the antinucleosome antibodies test: positive (group A) and negative (group B). The two groups were also evaluated for clinical and biological parameters. Of 84 patients with SLE, 66 (78.6%) had antinucleosome antibodies. Among 21 patients negative for anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), 5 (23.8%) were antinucleosome positive. The most common initial features were haematological disorders (80.1%) and arthritis or arthralgias (79.8%). Renal disorders, observed in 59.5% of SLE patients, were more common in group A compared to group B (65 vs 38%) (p=0.04). The European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) mean score was higher in group A (6.42) than in group B (4.44) (p=0.002). Antinucleosome antibodies were positive in nearly one-fourth of SLE patients negative for anti-dsDNA. We found a correlation between antinucleosome antibodies, nephritis and SLE disease activity. Therefore, the determination of circulating antinucleosome antibodies could be a useful parameter for early diagnosis and follow-up of SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Laboratory, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddouk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Ayed
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baklouti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hachicha
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bahloul
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D009707:Nucleosomes