[Antinuclear, anti-DNA and anti-lymphocyte antibodies in systemic scleroderma. 62 cases]

The authors describe a prospective study of serum immunological abnormalities in 62 cases of systemic sclerodermia. Antinuclear antibodies were found in 67 percent of the cases. Contrary to expectation, the homogenous type was the most common. Anticentromeric antibodies were found in 4 of the 10 CREST syndrome patients. Anti-RNP (2/62) and natural anti-DNA antibodies are rarely found in sclerodermia. Non-cytotoxic anti-lymphocytic antibodies were found in more than half of the serums studied. They were frequently found in the CREST cases and in cases associated with Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome. Their significance is unknown. Lastly, almost all of the cases of systemic sclerodermia showed an immunological serum abnormality.