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assays: immunoflourescence, ELISA, radial immunodiffusion
nDNA (double stranded) antibodies
| • | reported as (+) or (-), titer unnecessary |
| • | presence of anti-dsDNA tends to correlate with renal disease |
| • | levels tend to correlate with disease activity (but need to know history of levels during past flares) |
| • | can be present in autoimmune liver disease (chronic active hepatitis) |
ssDNA antibodies
| • | very low diagnostic value |
histone antibodies
| • | = basic protein that binds the DNA structure to contribute to the super-coil formation |
| • | the majority (~ 90%) of patients with drug induced SLE have anti-histone antibodies, to the exclusion of other antibodies |
| • | also present in ~ 30% of patients with idiopathic SLE (but these patients have other autoantibodies) |
| • | sensitive but not specific for drug induced LE |
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