ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the role between antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) and clinical manifestations in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods:

The study included 187 adult patients with a diagnosis of SLE. Patients fulfilled the 2012 classification criteria for SLE. Full medical history, general examination, and laboratory investigations were recorded. Analyses of the autoantibodies [antinuclear antibody, anti-dsDNA, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, anti-Sm and anti-ribonucleoproteins (RNP)] in the serum of the patients at diagnosis were also undertaken by the routine clinical immunology laboratory at University Hospital.

Results:

The median age was 38 years, and 176 (94.1%) patients were women. Median disease duration was 120 months. Median levels of serum anti-dsDNA, complement 3 and 4 were found 211,7 IU/μL,78 mg/dL and 12,3 mg/dL. The most frequent clinical manifestation of these patients was musculoskeletal disorders (60.4%) the others were mucocutanous disorders, respectively (57.8%), nephritis (37.4%), haematological (18.7%), neurological disorders (12.3%). Anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-Ro and anti-La positivity were found in 15%, 24%, 26.7% and 11,8% of SLE cases. Multivariable analysis revealed that discoid rash was independent predictors of anti-Sm positivity; Raynaud phenomenon and oral ulcer were independent predictors of anti-RNP positivity; alopecia, lupus pneumonia and pericarditis were independent predictors of anti-Ro positivity and pleuritis was independent predictors of anti-La positivity.

Conclusion:

Presence of antibodies against ENAs may predict findings that may occur in the follow-up in patients with SLE and It may be useful for follow-up.

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Relationship between antibodies and clinical manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

References