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Antidouble-stranded DNA isotypes in lupus erythematosus patients with prevalent cutaneous presentation
A Parodi1, M Drosera, L B Barbieri
1Department of Endocrinological and Metabolic Diseases, Section of Dermatology, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 7, Italy. rebdermo@unige.it
Background:
Antidouble-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA Ab), in particular of the IgG isotype, are usually considered a marker of systemic lupus erythematosus and often correlate with the disease activity.
Objectives:
To determine IgG, IgA and IgM anti-dsDNA Ab in a group of 330 patients with lupus erythematosus and prevalent cutaneous lesions.
Methods:
The titre of anti-dsDNA Ab was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and disease activity was assessed by means of the systemic lupus activity measure.
Results:
One hundred and six patients had anti-dsDNA Ab. Thirty-nine patients had antibodies of all three isotypes of immunoglobulins, 17 had IgG + IgM, five IgG + IgA, and two IgA + IgM. Forty-three patients had a single isotype of anti-dsDNA Ab. Patients with systemic disease and higher disease activity had antibodies of all three isotypes of immunoglobulins or of IgG isotype. Remarkably, anti-dsDNA Ab of the IgA isotype, alone or associated with IgM, marked dermatological patients with low disease activity, but often with disquieting clinical and/or laboratory alterations.
Conclusions:
These results indicate a correlation between disease activity and both frequency and isotype of anti-dsDNA Ab.