Lack of clinical association with antibodies to ribosomal P proteins in Indian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and clinical association of the antiribosomal antibodies in our cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
IgG antiribosomal P protein (anti-P) antibodies were detected in 202 consecutive patients with SLE and 212 age and sex matched healthy subjects by an in-house ELISA, using the 22-mer C-terminal peptide. In 13 patients, IgG anti-P antibodies were also tested in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera samples. Clinical variables were compared in the antibody-positive and negative groups using appropriate statistical tests.


RESULTS
Of the 202 patients, 15 were male. Their median age was 30 years and the median disease duration was 36 months. Thirty-one patients (15.35%) were positive for IgG anti-P antibodies, of which 24 were also positive by Western blot. No association with SLE Disease Activity Index, nervous system disease, nephritis, hepatitis, skin disease, arthritis, and juvenile onset disease could be demonstrated. Levels of IgG anti-P antibodies in CSF were 100-fold less compared to levels in serum, and correlated well with the latter (r = 0.86; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of IgG anti-P antibodies is similar in Indian and Caucasian patients with SLE. No association with specific organ involvement or age at onset could be demonstrated.
Chandran
Vinod
V
Department of Immunology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. mfigueredo.hcsc@salud.madrid.org
Upadhyaya
Sundeep Kumar
SK
Haroon
Nigil
N
Aggarwal
Amita
A
Misra
Ramnath
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007194:India; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People
D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins