Presence Of anti-Ro Antibodies Research Articles

Autoimmune phenomena in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We have studied sera from 44 children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome using immunoblotting, radioimmunoassay, enzymoimmunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence. We have detected a low incidence of antinuclear (2.9%), anti-reticulin (2.9%) and anti-smooth muscle (14.7%) antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. By enzymoimmunoassay we have detected anti-dsDNA (20.5%) and anti-ENA [anti-nRNP (61.3%), anti-Sm (29.5%), anti-Ro (47.7%) and anti-La (18.1%)] antibodies. Tests for anti-dsDNA by radioimmunoassay were negative, suggesting the presence of low-avidity anti-DNA antibodies. By immunoblotting we have detected anti-C (nRNP) (33.3%), anti-BB' (Sm) (33.3%), anti-Ro (60 KD) (4.5%) and anti-La (11.3%) antibodies. The presence of anti-Ro antibodies was associated with progressive neurological disease. Long-term follow-up studies with larger numbers of patients are necessary to evaluate the clinical significance of the presence of anti-dsDNA and anti-ENA antibodies in children infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Chronic cutaneous LE is a diverse disease, characterized by predominantly cutaneous disease with few systemic complications. Discoid lesions are commonly seen, but they are not specific for chronic cutaneous LE. These scarring and disfiguring changes are also present in neonatal LE, SLE, and complement deficiency LE. Because definitive diagnosis cannot be made by cutaneous examination alone, all patients should initially be evaluated for systemic disease. A small percentage of patients with chronic cutaneous LE will ultimately develop SLE, and therefore, patients should be re-evaluated periodically. The pathogenesis of the cutaneous lesions is not definitively known. There is suggestive evidence implicating T-cell mediated injury, especially in discoid LE. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity may also play a significant role in cellular damage in subacute cutaneous LE and neonatal LE, especially in the presence of anti-Ro antibody. Immunoglobulin deposition in association with membrane attack complex, has been associated with epidermal injury in some cases. Treatment of chronic cutaneous LE is largely symptomatic and nonspecific, focusing on reduction of inflammation. Further knowledge of pathogenesis will, hopefully, provide for specific immunologic therapy.

Correlation of anti‐Ro antibody with photosensitivity rash in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

We studied 131 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to determine the relationship between the presence of anti-Ro antibody in these patients and specific manifestations of SLE. There was a significant correlation between anti-Ro and photosensitivity rash in SLE patients, regardless of the type of rash. No significant association was found between anti-Ro and other SLE criteria or between anti-Ro and demographic variables.

Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in Multiple Members of a Family With C2 Deficiency

Deficiency of the second component of complement (C2d) has been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (LE)-like syndromes as well as recurrent infections. In particular, C2d has been associated with the LE subset of subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE), the presence of anti-Ro antibodies (anti-Ro or SS-A), and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types A25, B18, and DR2. A family with C2d in which three members have developed SCLE was observed and studied clinically, serologically, and immunogenetically. Deficiency of the second component of complement was present in all six family members, while anti-Ro was present in only two. There was a strong but incomplete association of C2d and SCLE with HLA-DR2, but the association was not complete with positivity of anti-Ro or antinuclear antibodies. Study of this family reconfirmed the close association of HLA-A25, -B18 and -DR2 with the C2 gene, but indicated a less close association of these loci with serologic markers.