Autoantibodies encountered in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases Flashcards
What does the ANA test for?
Tests for a group of Anti-nuclear antibodies commonly defined as autoantibodies that target primarily nuclear components including DNA, small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP) and are detected by the fluorescent antinuclear antibody test
What diseases are increased ANA titers seen in ?
Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and dermatomyositis
Pathogenic potential of ANA antibodies?
These reflect basic inflammatory events in tissue but rarely care pathogenic potential
Fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) vs ELISA test?
Elisa is less expensive, more convenient, but has increased density and decreased specificity.
The FANA can also give you titers
What does the ANA titer represent?
The last dilution at which the ANA pattern is detectable.
The higher the number, the higher the levels of the autoantibody that is being picked up
Importance of ANA for SLE?
High titers of ANA have high sensitivity (98%), and low specificity (90%) and the NPV is high (99%). The PPV though is only 30-40% for SLE.
- ~2/3 of + ANAs in a general medical population will be a/w dz other than SLE
- Rare that a negative ANA will have SLE
What percent of patients w/ SLE are negative for ANA?
1-2%
What is the PPV of ANA for the detection of SLE?
30-40% and NPV is 99%
What is the most sensitive serologic test for SLE?
ANA
What ANA patterns are a/w SLE?
Homogenous and peripheral
How often is ANA + in SCLE and what type of ANA pattern is seen?
60-80% and speckled/particulate ANA pattern
What percentage of patients w/ DLE have + ANA
5-25%
Significance of the ssDNA antibody?
This one can suggest a risk for developing SLE in DLE patients.
also seen in linear morphea
Significance of the C1q antibody?
Severe SLE and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis
Significance of the dsDNA antibody?
Highly specific test for SLE, a/w LE nephritis. Useful for monitoring nephritis activity
What is the significance of the U1RNP antibody?
It is always + in mixed connective tissue dz (required for dx)
What is the significance of the Ro/SSA antibody?
+ in neonatal LE/congenital heart block (99%); SCLE (75-90%), primary SjS (70); a/w photosensitivity
Which antibody is + in 99% of cases of neonatal LE/congenital heart block
Ro/SSA
Significance of the cardiolipin antibody?
Antiphospholipid syndrome in SLE.
- Recurrent abortions, thrombocytopenia, hypercoagulable state, livedo reticularis, leg ulcers, acral infarction, hemorrhagic cutaneous necrosis
Significance of the anti-histone antibody?
Drug-induced SLE
Significance of the anti-smith antibody?
Highly specific for SLE; higher prevalence in African Americans and Asians (30-40%)
Significance of the anti beta2 glycoprotein antibody?
High risk of thrombosis in SLE; primary antiphospholipid syndrome
Significance of the anti rRNP antibody?
Highly specific for SLE; a/w neuropsychiatric LE
What is the significance of the anti-Ku antibody?
Overlap syndromes with DM/PM and systemic sclerosis. Thought to be potentially associated with myositis in SLE cases
Which antibodies are high specific for SLE?
dsDNA, Smith, rRNP
What two proteins make up the Ro antigen?
Ro52 and Ro60
Which of the Ro antigens is cytoplasmic and which is nuclear?
Ro52 is cytoplasmic and the 60kD (Ro60) is nuclear
Which of the Ro antigens is more pathogenic?
Ro52 is more pathogenic and clinically significant
What happens if the patient is negative for 60kD (nuclear) but + for the 52kD (cytoplasmic) antigens?
Then the interpreter may report a negative ANA
What do the anti-SSA/ro and Anti-SSB/La antibodies react against and where are they located in the cell?
These react against proteins present in human cytoplasmic RNP that are found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus