Antinuclear antibodies. II. The prognostic significance of nuclear immunofluorescent patterns in lupus erythematosus.

Nuclear immunofluorescent patterns in lupus erythematosus (LE) were correlated with the clinical picture. Patterns were classified into three groups of prognostic significance: (1) Poor-Shrunken peripheral fluorescence was found in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 60% demonstrating renal involvement. (2) Intermediate-This included the peripheral and therapy patterns, associated with 33% renal involvement in patients with SLE. (3) Good-Large and small speckle-like threads were seen in cases of very benign LE.