The clinical significance of anti- ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 autoantibodies in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical significance of anti- ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1(UCHL-1)autoantibodies in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Methods: Autoantibodies in cerebrospinal fluid specimen of 56 inpatients were detected by using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the fullmedical history and clinical manifestations were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The levels of anti-UCHL-1 autoantibodies in NPSLE group were significant higher than that in other controls (P<0.05). The positive rate of anti-UCHL-1 autoantibodies in NPSLE group was 23.7% (9/38), which was higher than that in the control groups (0%). A significant difference of anti-UCHL-1 autoantibodies was observed in the patients with blood system involvement (P=0.012). The positive rates of anti-UCHL autoantibodies in the patients with negative SLE related autoantibodies including AnuA, anti-dsDNA, Acl, anti-nRNP, anti-rRNP and anti-Smantibody negative were 41.7%, 29.4%, 29.2%, 25.9%, 25.0%, 25.0%, respectively.The levels of anti-UCHL-1 autoantibodies had a positive correlation with 24-hours proteinuria (r=0.361, P=0.039). Conclusion: Anti-UCHL-1 autoantibodies had promising value in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.