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Published on: June 23, 2014
Double-stranded RNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|June 1, 1975
Summary
High levels of antibodies to viral double-stranded RNA (ds RNA) are found almost exclusively in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), though not disease-specific. These ds RNA antibodies have limited clinical significance for managing SLE patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Virology
Background:
- Antibodies to viral double-stranded RNA (ds RNA) are present in 40% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
- These antibodies are also found in 14-5% of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic specificity and clinical significance of antibodies to viral double-stranded RNA (ds RNA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Main Methods:
- Comparison of antibody prevalence in SLE and rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- Assessment of diagnostic specificity against artificial polynucleotides (poly I:C, poly A:U).
- Serial studies to correlate antibody titers with disease activity.
Main Results:
- Antibodies to ds RNA were more diagnostically specific for SLE than antibodies to artificial polynucleotides.
- High titers of anti-ds RNA antibodies were found almost exclusively in SLE patients.
- Antibody levels did not correlate with disease activity in serial studies.
Conclusions:
- While anti-ds RNA antibodies are of experimental interest for SLE pathogenesis, they possess limited clinical utility for disease management.
- The presence of high-titer anti-ds RNA antibodies is highly suggestive of SLE but lacks disease specificity.
