[Anti-U1RNP antibodies and lupus nephritis].

INTRODUCTION

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is characterized by production of numerous autoantibodies as an abnormal immune response. The most important antibodies are those aimed at constitutive elements of cell nucleus.

METHODS

After antigen typing of antinuclear antibodies in 30 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus we analyzed the correlation between anti-Sm antibodies and anti-U1RNP antibodies and the degree of disease activity, such as correlation of these two antibodies with some clinical manifestations of this disease. This study included patients who fulfilled all revised American Rheumatism Association criteria to diagnose systemic lupus. To determine the degree of disease activity we used Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index after Bombardier. To detect antinuclear antibodies technique of indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA procedure for antigen typing of these antibodies were used.

RESULTS

We registered antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 100% of our patients, with domination of homogenous pattern of immunofluorescence (70%). Speakled pattern was registered in 16.66% and margin type in 6.66%. Using ELISA procedure of antigen typing of ANA we registered anti-U1RNP antibodies in 26.7% patients, while anti-Sm antibodies were registered in 20%.

CONCLUSION

Anti-U1RNP antibodies finding is associated with mild forms of disease and rare appearance of lupus nephritis, while anti-Sm antibodies finding is characteristic for very active forms of disease and often lupus nephritis.