Evaluation of the simultaneous estimation of anti-dsDNA and anti-ssDNA antibodies for clinical purposes.

The double-antibody solid-phase assay for DNA antibodies permits simultaneous and quantitative determination of antibodies to dsDNA and ssDNA. Using this method, 170 sera, mainly ANA-positive, were examined for the presence of anti-dsDNA and anti-ssDNA to assess the role of these antibodies in the ANA reaction. It was found that in the SLE group of patients, their ability to respond to dsDNA was correlated with the multiorgan symptomatology of disease. Anti-ssDNA titres are also highest in this group. However, anti-ssDNA titres predominate over anti-dsDNA in other collagen diseases. This predominance increases as we progress from the SLE group to undefined mild collagenosis, because the response to dsDNA decreases more than the response to ssDNA. This observation suggests that the clinical manifestation of the collagen diseases and multiorgan manifestation of SLE is linked with the pattern of response to DNA in the majority of cases. In conclusion, it appears that the determination of both ssDNA and dsDNA antibodies can be of value for the prognosis and management of patients with connective tissue disease.