OBJECTIVE: To investigate the temporal correlation between anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibody levels and compare them with variation in clinical disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Sequential serum samples collected over 18-44 months from 18 anti-Ro/SSA positive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were analysed by ELISA with recombinant Ro60, Ro52 and La antigens. Disease activity was assessed by the BILAG index. RESULTS: Limited antibody level variation over time was found in most patients, but a subset displayed more changes and a co-variation between the levels of separate specificities was found in 40% of patients. In two patients antibody levels fluctuated with the global score. Antibodies also correlated with separate organ/systems involvement in individual patients. CONCLUSION: The Ro60, Ro52 and La antibody profile is fixed at an early stage of disease and in most patients hardly changes. Patients with fluctuating levels tend to have a co-ordinated expression of these autoantibodies.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the temporal correlation between anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibody levels and compare them with variation in clinical disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Sequential serum samples collected over 18-44 months from 18 anti-Ro/SSA positive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were analysed by ELISA with recombinant Ro60, Ro52 and La antigens. Disease activity was assessed by the BILAG index. RESULTS: Limited antibody level variation over time was found in most patients, but a subset displayed more changes and a co-variation between the levels of separate specificities was found in 40% of patients. In two patients antibody levels fluctuated with the global score. Antibodies also correlated with separate organ/systems involvement in individual patients. CONCLUSION: The Ro60, Ro52 and La antibody profile is fixed at an early stage of disease and in most patients hardly changes. Patients with fluctuating levels tend to have a co-ordinated expression of these autoantibodies.
Authors: D Villalta; N Bizzaro; S Platzgummer; A Antico; M Tampoia; L Camogliano; D Bassetti; M Pradella; A Piazza; F Manoni; R Tozzoli; E Tonutti Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2004-12-10 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: L Strandberg; O Winqvist; S-E Sonesson; S Mohseni; S Salomonsson; K Bremme; J P Buyon; H Julkunen; M Wahren-Herlenius Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2008-08-22 Impact factor: 4.330