Clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with antihistone antibodies.

The presenting features of 25 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with antihistone antibodies were compared to 25 age and sex matched patients who had antibodies to Sm, ribonuclear protein, Sjögren's syndrome antigen B and native DNA. The SLE patients with antihistone antibodies had a significantly lower frequency of renal disease, central nervous system disease, alopecia, anemia and hypocomplementemia. Nine of 25 (36%) age and sex matched RA patients had antihistone antibodies but in lower titers than the SLE patients. There was no correlation of antihistone antibody titers with disease activity, corticosteroid therapy or rheumatoid factor titer. Histone-antihistone complexes did not bind complement components of either the classical or alternative pathway of complement.