Anti-nucleosome and anti-chromatin antibodies are present in active systemic lupus erythematosus but not in the cutaneous form of the disease

• Published in: Lupus Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 223 - 229
• Main Authors: Souza, A, da Silva, LM, Oliveira, FR, Roselino, AMF, Louzada-Junior, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2009; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Antibodies, Antinuclear - immunology; Antigens; Autoantibodies - immunology; Child; Chromatin - immunology; Enzymes; Female; Humans; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous - physiopathology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Nucleosomes - immunology; Severity of Illness Index; Statistical analysis; Thymus gland; Young Adult; Brazil; United States > US; California; SLEDAI; anti-chromatin; systemic lupus erythematosus; anti-nucleosome; cutaneous lupus
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203308096255

The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of anti-nucleosome (anti-NCS) and anti-chromatin (anti-CRT) antibodies in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) compared with active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 154 subjects were evaluated: 54 patients presenting CLE, 66 patients with active SLE and 34 with inactive SLE. Lupus activity was assessed using the disease activity index (SLEDAI). Anti-NCS and anti-CRT antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Only one of 54 patients with CLE tested positive for both anti-NCS and anti-CRT antibodies. The prevalence of anti-CRT antibodies was significantly higher in active SLE (84.8%) when compared with inactive SLE (26.4%) and CLE (1.8%) (P < 0.001). Anti-NCS antibodies were also more prevalent in active SLE patients (74.2%) than inactive SLE (11.7%) and CLE patients (1.8%) (P < 0.001). The presence of anti-CRT and anti-NCS antibodies was correlated to disease activity in patients with SLE (r = 0.4937, r = 0.5621, respectively). Furthermore, the detection of both antibodies was correlated with disease activity in patients with SLE who tested negative for anti-dsDNA antibodies (r = 0.4754 for anti-NCS and r = 0.4281 for anti-CRT). The presence of these two auto-antibodies was strongly associated with renal damage in patients with SLE (OR = 13.1, for anti-CRT antibodies and OR = 25.83, for anti-NCS antibodies). The anti-NCS and anti-CRT antibodies were not found in CLE. In patients with SLE, there is a correlation of these antibodies with disease activity and active nephritis. When compared with anti-dsDNA antibodies, anti-NCS and anti-CRT antibodies were more sensitive in detecting disease activity and kidney damage in lupus patients.