title: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with and without Anti-dsDNA Antibodies: Analysis from a Large Monocentric Cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anti-dsDNA antibodies are a marker for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and 70-98% of patients test positive. We evaluated the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and therapeutical features of a monocentric SLE cohort according to the anti-dsDNA status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified three groups: anti-dsDNA + (persistent positivity); anti-dsDNA ± (initial positivity and subsequent negativity during disease course); anti-dsDNA - (persistent negativity). Disease activity was assessed by the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 393 patients (anti-dsDNA +: 62.3%; anti-dsDNA ±: 13.3%; anti-dsDNA -: 24.4%). The renal involvement was significantly more frequent in anti-dsDNA + (30.2%), compared with anti-dsDNA ± and anti-dsDNA - (21.1% and 18.7%, resp.; P = 0.001). Serositis resulted significantly more frequent in anti-dsDNA - (82.3%) compared to anti-dsDNA + and anti-dsDNA ± (20.8% and 13.4%, resp.; P < 0.0001). The reduction of C4 serum levels was identified significantly more frequently in anti-dsDNA + and anti-dsDNA ± (40.0% and 44.2%, resp.) compared with anti-dsDNA - (21.8%, P = 0.005). We did not identify significant differences in the mean ECLAM values before and after modification of anti-dsDNA status (P = 0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-dsDNA status influences the clinical and immunological features of SLE patients. Nonetheless, it does not appear to affect disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perricone
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marocchi
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truglia
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.affiliation: Lupus Clinic, Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valesini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA