A latex nucleoprotein test for diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. A comparative evaluation.

Abstract

THE aim of this brief report is to review our experience with a simplified commercially available latex nucleoprotein agglutination test for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to correlate it with a sensitive cytological method for detection of LE cells. These studies were performed on a group of 320 cases with various forms of lupus erythematosus, allied disorders, unrelated conditions, and normal controls. Since Hargraves' classic description of the LE phenomenon in 1948, the incidence of SLE has greatly increased, most likely as a result of our ability to confirm diagnoses in otherwise equivocal cases by demonstration of LE cells.1Studies by Miescher and others have shown that the LE inclusion body is probably an antinuclear autoantibody reaction.2,3It was hoped that the sensitivity of the antinuclear antibody tests might be greater and more specific than the cytological methods. Numerous modifications of these reactions have