[Antibodies against deoxyribonucleoproteins in circulating immune complexes in the blood of patients with autoimmune diseases].

In 40 patients with various autoimmune diseases antibodies against desoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP) were assessed by enzyme immunoanalysis (ELISA) in serum and after dissociation of the isolated precipitate of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the presence of polyethylene glycol. The results indicate that antibodies against DNP are not specific for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can be detected in serum and in particular in CIC in various autoimmune conditions. In SLE they may be important for evaluation of the activity of the disease, in particular if estimated concurrently in serum and in CIC.