Open AccessIdentification of a clinical subset of systemic lupus erythematosus by antibodies to the sm antigen
Author(s) -
Winn Donna M,
Wolfe J Frederick,
Lindberg Donald A,
Fristoe Frank H,
Kingsland Larry,
Sharp Gordon C
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780221203
Subject(s) - medicine , antibody , systemic disease , immunology , glomerulonephritis , lupus erythematosus , antigen , renal biopsy , pathology , disease , connective tissue disease , autoimmune disease , immunopathology , biopsy , kidney
The clinical and renal histologic attributes of 135 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with DNA and/or Sm antibodies were compared to determine if the presence of the Sm antibodies served as a marker for a specific subset of SLE. Although Raynaud's phenomenon was more frequent in patients with Sm antibodies ( P < 0.005), serious central nervous system disease was over three times as common in patients with DNA antibodies ( P < 0.005). Only one of 23 patients with Sm antibodies had diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis on renal biopsy, whereas 6 of 14 patients with only DNA antibodies had this histologic finding ( P = 0.01). The Sm antibody system may therefore identify a subset of SLE patients with milder central nervous system and renal disease.