Indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2000 substrate is a sensitive method for detecting anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in patients with lupus erythematosus and/or photosensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sensitivity of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) utilizing HEp-2000 cells to detect antinuclear and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies.


METHODS
We examined 5949 sera samples from 2316 patients with connective tissue diseases. All sera were tested by IIF on HEp-2 cells as substrate and by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The positive sera for anti-Ro/SSA antibodies by CIE were retested by IIF using HEp-2000 cells. The sera that were anti-Ro/SSA-positive in CIE but negative on HEp-2000 cells were tested by ELISA for the 60 and 52 subunits of Ro/SSA antigen.


RESULTS
Our results confirm the high sensitivity (81%) of HEp-2000 cells in detecting anti Ro/SSA antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the HEp-2000 substrate is a reliable, simple alternative method for detecting anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in a first-level screening test such as IIF, especially in patients with lupus erythematosus and/or photosensitivity.
Cozzani
Emanuele
E
Di.S.E.M. Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Drosera
Massimo
M
Siccardi
Marina
M
Babbini
Giovanni
G
Parodi
Aurora
A
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000099207:SS-A Antigen